David's Story

Nerve Graft Recipient

David suffered a gunshot wound to his upper right leg when he and his wife unknowingly interrupted a home invasion. The gunshot severed David’s sciatic nerve, impacting his ability to walk and leaving him in debilitating pain. The damage to his nerve resulted in a condition often referred to as drop foot, an inability to lift the front part of the foot. This causes the foot to drag along the ground while walking.

As frustrating as this was for David, the constant pain he was experiencing was an even bigger burden. He was unable to sit or stand comfortably and struggled with everyday activities.

Fortunately, David was referred to a nerve surgeon who was able to help. David’s surgeon removed a painful neuroma and significant scar tissue that had developed around the injured nerve resolving the pain, and then repaired the resulting nerve gap with donated nerve allografts to connect the damaged nerve.

David is grateful to be pain-free and continues to regain both sensation and motor function to his injured leg. He recently returned to work and is back to “roughhousing” with his grandchildren.