Advanced Reconstructive Surgery Alliance Offers Hope for Chronic Pain Sufferers

Chronic pain is a relentless battle for many individuals, and celebrities like Billie Eilish are becoming more vocal about their struggles. In an interview with Vogue, Eilish revealed she has been dealing with chronic pain since she was just nine years old. She described her experience as a war with her own body.

For Jamie Stern, a 39-year-old mom and breast cancer survivor, chronic pain is a constant reminder of her battle. Following a double mastectomy, Stern developed lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling and pain in her arm. Despite more than two years of visits to various doctors, Stern found no effective treatment.

Both Eilish and Stern’s stories highlight a significant public health issue: chronic pain is a global epidemic that disproportionately affects women and is often overlooked by the medical community.

The Invisible Epidemic of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide, yet it remains a low priority in medical research and treatment. Symptoms such as nerve pain, numbness, and lymphedema can severely impact a patient’s quality of life. Many patients are dismissed or gaslit by healthcare providers because their symptoms are not seen as urgent or are difficult to diagnose.

The medical industry often focuses on managing pain rather than finding cures. Jamie Stern refused to accept this status quo and sought alternative treatments.

ARSA: Pioneering a New Approach to Chronic Pain

Dr. Andrew Elkwood, a double-board-certified general and plastic surgeon with an MBA from Columbia University, recognized the need for a more comprehensive approach to chronic pain. He founded the nation’s largest plastic surgery practice specializing in complex reconstructive procedures. Through his work, Elkwood identified gaps in healthcare and understood that many patients with chronic pain were not getting the help they needed.

Driven by this realization, Elkwood founded The Advanced Reconstructive Surgery Alliance (ARSA), an alliance of more than 80 specialized surgeons from across the country. These surgeons are skilled in microsurgical techniques that can cure complex conditions often overlooked by traditional treatment methods.

ARSA provides its doctors with the administrative, operational, and research support they need to focus on advancing research and healing patients. Importantly, the alliance is led by Elkwood, a practicing surgeon.

A Commitment to Cures, Not Compromise

While Dr. Elkwood primarily specializes in conditions involving pelvic nerves, ARSA’s practitioners address a wide range of chronic pain conditions, including joint pain, migraine headaches, neuropathy, and neuralgia. Many patients come to ARSA after being told their problems were incurable.

Lymphedema is a common and overlooked condition that can develop after mastectomy surgery. It causes lymphatic fluid buildup and significant pain. According to The New York Times Magazine, 40-60% of mastectomy patients experience severe chronic pain, often comparable to the pain experienced by amputees.

Dr. Joseph Dayan, a surgeon with ARSA, is working to change this. He has pioneered the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, commonly known as weight-loss drugs, to help treat lymphedema. One of the first patients to benefit from this approach was Jamie Stern, who had been told her condition was inoperable.

According to Stern, the GLP-1 injections made her lymphatic channels visible and workable, allowing Dr. Dayan to perform a lymphatic bypass surgery. Although only a few months post-surgery, Stern reported improved mobility and strength in her arm.

Kathy Bates, an Academy Award winner and two-time cancer survivor, also suffers from lymphedema. She advocates for others and has joined forces with Dr. Dayan to advocate for insurance coverage and funding for lymphedema research in Washington, D.C.

Providing Elevated Specialized Care to Chronic Pain Sufferers

Chronic pain patients often face gaslighting or dismissal by healthcare providers. As The New York Times Magazine‘s Jennifer Kahn put it, chronic pain requires individualized treatment plans and ongoing support. Dr. Anjeanette Brown, a breast surgeon with ARSA, sees this as a critical point.

Dr. Brown, who is the head of breast surgery at a hospital, explains the frustration of being forced to refer patients to hospital-affiliated providers, even when other doctors might be better suited to treat their conditions.

ARSA allows Dr. Brown and other practitioners the freedom to collaborate with other doctors and researchers, customizing treatment plans based on individual patient needs. This approach offers the personalized, innovative care that is typically only available at expensive concierge practices.

A Future Without Chronic Pain

For chronic pain sufferers like Eilish and Stern, the future can’t come soon enough. Jennifer Kahn of The New York Times Magazine notes, “For me, and for everyone else who has lost months or years or decades of their life to pain, the future can’t come soon enough.”

ARSA’s doctors are leading the way in providing real solutions for chronic pain. Their work not only offers hope but delivers tangible, life-changing results. For those who have been told their pain is something they must simply endure, ARSA’s innovations prove that relief is possible, and a future free from chronic pain may be within reach.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts on chronic pain and the importance of personalized, innovative healthcare solutions.