Nerve specialist at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital helps amputee return to active lifestyle

Game On

Two years ago when motorcycle enthusiast Nathan Blasco was in an accident, he was at the top of his game. A former marksman in the military, Nathan was often running, cycling, playing with his four kids or walking his dog in the Pennsylvania countryside.

But one spring day, everything changed. Nathan was riding down a back road to his office where he works as an insurance agent, when a truck turned in front of him, knocking him off his bike. He was medivacked to a local hospital where doctors amputated his shattered leg above the knee.

Nerve and “phantom limb” pain after amputation

For two years following his surgery, Nathan experienced constant nerve pain and phantom limb pain, preventing him from wearing a prosthesis. After two revision surgeries and no improvement, the young family man knew he had to find the right doctor who could help him reclaim his active lifestyle. “I was 35 when I lost my leg,” says Nathan. “I’m very active and I needed to get this fixed. I wanted to walk and run and ride my bike again.”

Return to Normal after Neuroma Removal and Rewire

Nathan was referred to John Barbour MD, FACS, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital and Medical Director of the new Inova Peripheral Nerve Center. He was relieved to meet with a highly trained surgeon who specializes in helping patients become pain-free and regain sensation and motor function in their extremities.

Dr. Barbour removed a scarred portion of a nerve called a neuroma and then rewired the nerve so it would no longer cause discomfort. “Mr. Blasco is a young, healthy, active father who struggled with pain and the inability to wear a prosthetic leg because of that pain,” says Dr. Barbour.

“Now he has no pain, no phantom pain in his foot. He’s wearing his prosthesis, and he’s back to running with his kids and his dog. He’s a great success story.”

After the surgery, when Nathan saw the revision that Dr. Barbour had done, he cried. “I told Dr. Barbour it looks awesome,” says Nathan. “In two months, I was up and walking with no pain or complications. It improved my gait so I now can walk my dog, ride my bike, shoot guns out on the range and mow my grass. I’m thankful for Dr. Barbour.”

Restoring Nerve Function with Surgery

When a nerve is compressed or damaged following an injury, it is unable to communicate with the brain, which controls sensation and movement. The good news is doctors now have the capability to restore sensation and motor function through surgery, allowing patients to get back to the activities they enjoy.

“There is sometimes a way to help patients with certain types of chronic and specific pain by removing the problem,” says John Barbour, MD, FACS. “This is done with surgery to rewire the nerves or to move things around so that the nerves are no longer compressed.”

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital has developed a multidisciplinary peripheral nerve program that will diagnose and treat compression neuropathies, injured or cut nerves, peripheral nerve tumors and migraine headaches.

Nerve pain? Call for an Appointment

If you have experienced peripheral nerve damage, please call 703-972-6655.