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Local veteran finds chronic pain relief 10 years after war wound

An Army veteran fighting chronic pain from a battle wound is celebrating a health breakthrough after 10 years of searching for relief.

An Army veteran fighting chronic pain from a battle wound is celebrating a health breakthrough after 10 years of searching for relief.

Sergeant First Class Charlie McCall’s first task after retiring from the Army was to adjust to living with a prosthetic leg and a traumatic brain injury. He quickly found that chronic, intense pain would be one of his toughest battles.

“It was an indirect artillery 107-millimeter rocket,” said McCall. “That’s when everything changed a lot. was kind of a zombie most of the time. I just remember bits and pieces but what I remember the most is the pain.”

The blast happened during his third deployment. It was a volunteer mission in Afghanistan in 2008. The decision to go still haunts the McCall family. One month into the tour their lives changed forever.

“When I initially got injured they said I took it pretty well, I gave a little motivational speech and I don’t remember any of that. It’s just based off of what people told me,” said McCall.

Taken by medical helicopter to Germany, Doctors tried to save McCall’s injured leg. The surgery was unsuccessful and his left leg was amputated. The war wound along with a traumatic brain injury led to an all-consuming pain. It has taken the hero years to find relief.

“Opioids are a short solution. Always look for the alternate pain management,” said McCall’s wife Sandy.

The couple was determined to find a solution without the side effects. Eighteen months ago they reached a turning point. Doctors implanted a device that stimulates McCall’s nerves. It’s called Abbott’s DRG. The device helps doctors treat the area of the body where he experiences pain.

Click: Abbott's DRG Therapy Explained

“I’m always constantly in pain but it takes off a lot of the edge. I can focus, think,” said McCall. “[It] allows me to go ride bikes and stuff so it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Sandy says she’s seen a dramatic change in her husband and is glad to see he was able to stop using fentanyl patches.

"Seeing him reach all these milestones one after the other, it’s a huge achievement and I’m so proud of him because he is a very independent person,” said Sandy. “He’s coming back the Charlie I knew.”

These days, McCall's focus is on being patient with his body as it catches up with his excitement to live life with his pain no longer taking over.

He also credits some healing to Operation Comfort, a local veterans group. He says they gave him a network of soldier support and created opportunities to do some of his favorite things like biking and yoga.

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