Many people who suffer from
pain become anxious and in time feel depressed. Some tell
us they think that this is because they consulted so many
doctors who told them that there was nothing wrong regardless
of persistent pain. In time, these patients feel that there
will be no end to their suffering and the limitations and
loss of joy in their lives which results.
However, in many other cases, patients become depressed
because the pain lasts for months or years, or even for
decades, resulting in their conditions becoming “chronic”.
Unfortunately, depression is a common characteristic of
chronic pain which can develop as early as three to six
months after pain begins.
In our experience, the good
news is that once the headaches and other symptoms improve,
even partially, depression which developed after pain onset
typically disappears. Some patients have even said that
reading this website, seeing that they are not alone, and
that there are answers to their problems, gave them a new
lease on life.
We do not treat depression
or anxiety. However, if these conditions develop after the
onset of pain, elimination of feelings of depression and
anxiety is a very welcome side-benefit.
One final reason for extreme
concern which some people have reported is the nightmarish
stories portrayed by certain organizations and their members.
It is sad but true that up until the mid-1980's a large
number of people underwent surgical placement of a device
made of a material called Teflon Proplast to replace the
discs in their jaws. While Teflon may be good for pots and
pans, it should never have been placed in anyone's
TM joint. Over time, the material broke into pieces which
spread throughout their bodies. In some cases it is believed
to have caused cancer and numerous other horrible diseases.
Many of the recipients who are still alive will be on morphine
for the rest of their lives. Without a doubt, this was one
of the worst episodes in medical/dental history and we feel
compassion for each and every person who was so horrendously
violated.
However, the truth is that
hardly any of our patients need joint surgery, that none
of them need Teflon or any comparable material put in their
joints, and that over 90% of our patients report that their
pain is "gone" when they complete treatment
and are discharged regardless of how many years they were
in pain.
Those are the facts, and
if anyone on the internet or elsewhere tells you scary stories,
know in your heart that they are well-meaning and deserving
of the utmost compassion and understanding, but do not let
them scare you into thinking that treatment of your condition
will lead to the horror that they or their loved ones have
endured.
Even a partial review of
our photogallery
should provide more than adequate proof.*
*Thanks to Carolyn from Maryland who made it clear that this
addition to our website is necessary.
“Before I
came to the Center for Headaches and Facial Pain, I couldn’t
sleep, I was depressed, and I had a really short fuse because
the headaches and eye pain were so bad. Words cannot explain
how thrilled I am to be completely free of pain. I feel
like a new person. My whole outlook on life has changed.“
- Heather M.
“It was so
depressing to have really bad headaches that were making
me throw up, but now I’m back to normal because it’s
all gone. Everyone is fabulous, and Dr. Klemons works magic!”
- Teresa K.
“I honestly
would have paid any amount of money to stop having migraines
and pain in my tongue, throat, and chest. I became non-functional
and made so many mistakes because I couldn’t think
straight. I can’t tell you how good it feels to feel
good and not have to think about how much I hurt for the
first time in 19 years. I really have no pain at all. I
really smile and laugh.
Everyone here is
so fabulous. They’re truly like family. I couldn’t
be more appreciative of my ear, nose and throat specialist
for sending me here. I didn’t realize it at the time,
but that was the greatest day of my life." - Mary Lynn
F.
If you have chest pain please click
here
“I was miserable
and couldn’t go anywhere. I couldn’t see friends
or play with my kids or be outside in the light. I had no
life and was so depressed and sad from the pain all over
my head and face, the dizziness, and the pressure in my
ears. I had to take so much pain medicine that it gave me
terrible stomachaches and made me throw-up. I thought I
would have it all forever. I can’t express how happy
I am that my neurologist sent me here. It feels like I have
my life back now that it’s all gone.“ - Gloria
C.
“Cluster headaches
affected my marriage, my children, my social life, and my
work for 36 years. The pain was really the cause of my divorce.
At first it felt like a knife was sticking in my eye four
or five times a day but there were times that I was pain
free. Eventually it attacked me every single day regardless
of all the medications my eight neurologists had me take.
I became very depressed and often thought of killing myself
because of the pain. I was even hospitalized three times
for a week at a time to take me off medications, but I never
got any better.
You don’t
know how happy you made me and my present wife by completely
eliminating the pain! It’s miraculous. I can even
sleep straight through the night for the first time in all
these years. All the doctors and staff here are terrific.
I never felt like a patient. I always felt like a friend.”
- Marvel J.
“Sleeping, eating, talking, kissing,
and being happy were generally impossible when the face
pain took over my life. It's a huge relief to have it all
gone and not be a barrier between me and my life." - Thomas
V.
“My tongue
doesn’t burn anymore, my chest doesn’t hurt
anymore, and my head, face, eye, ear, and throat don’t
hurt anymore. What’s more, I’ve been given the
tools to deal with my stress.
The therapy and
everyone here is awesome. Dr. Klemons is one in a million.
I wish that other doctors were as attentive and explained
everything as well as he does.” - Joelle S.
If you have chest pain please click
here
"I had a terrible
four car accident over three years ago and was in really
bad shape - including jaw damage which kept me from doing
normal things like eating and speaking (which are necessities
of life). I was really depressed until I found hope which
was a light at the end of the tunnel. That "light of hope"
was Dr. Ira Klemons and his entire staff. With time, patience,
kindness, and their expertise I now feel human once again.
The pain is really gone. I thank them for making my life
worth living again. They are all my "lights of hope"! -
Sandra B.
“It’s been like a miracle.
I haven’t felt this great in a long, long time. I
was so sad and in pain for so many years before treatment
here.” - Celina B.
“Wow! It’s amazing. So relieving! I don’t have to wake up with my face swollen and in agonizing pain and depressed because I couldn’t eat or go to school. Now I can go out and do anything I want. I don’t have to be worried about my family being angry at me for ruining their plans. Before I came here, I went to dentists, oral surgeons, and TMJ specialists in Florida and here before I was referred to Dr. Klemons. He’s a great doctor. The people here are all great. Everyone was just so pleasant all the time.” - Shilpa R.
“When
I developed eye pain and pressure, I became really anxious,
especially after I went to my ophthalmologist (eye doctor)
and ear, nose and throat specialist who were at a loss
as to why it hurt. Dr. Klemons found the cause, got it
to heal, and now it’s gone. The doctors and staff
are very nice.” - Wendy M.
“I can’t believe the
difference between the way I used to feel with migraines
all the time and how I feel now that they’re all
gone. I used to just want to lay in bed and curl up and
die. It was just terrible. I had such a good time here.
Everyone is fantastic.” - Brielle L.
"I'm really
amazed that the face pain and headaches are gone. They kept
me from sleeping and concentrating, and I even became depressed.
However, those aren't problems anymore either.
I was amazed that
the appointments were kept on time. I was taken when I was
scheduled. Everyone was very nice." - Roberta
G.
“It’s nice to wake up in the morning and not have headaches and all the other symptoms like buzzing in my ears, a lightheaded feeling, blurry vision, pain in my ears and chest, and a feeling something was sticking in my throat. It’s amazing how depressed I was over all of this. But now I’m back to my old self and it feels great! It was worth coming here from North Carolina. We have good doctors where I live, but Dr. Klemons was the only one able to get me better.” - Madlyn S. (North Carolina)
If
you have chest pain please click here
“People don’t
know what it’s like to have agonizing pain in the
head, ear, and face until they go through it themselves.
I was in a bad accident a year and a half ago and could
barely function after that, became very depressed, and had
to see a lot of doctors. Even the psychiatrist thought I
was making it up. He called it a “Conversion Reaction”
and put me on drugs. But now that it’s gone, I don’t
see him anymore. At the Headache Center the doctors and
staff are unbelievably wonderful and that’s the truth.”
- Thomas C.
“I
lost 15 lbs. because I couldn’t eat due to jaw pain,
fatigue, and headaches. I couldn’t eat my favorite
foods. Being in pain and not being able to eat or smile
really brought me down. I’m back to the happy-go-lucky
person I used to be because the pain and fatigue are gone.
As a matter of fact, the people here are fabulous.”
- Sigrid T.
“Every time I ate (everyday) my jaw started hurting really bad. I also had headaches and neck pain and a lot of stress and tension and a lot of mood swings from the pain. I am extremely, extremely happy it’s all gone because the treatment even relieved the stress and I feel better overall. It’s really a miracle. The people here are really, really nice. ” - Nichole F.
“For years
my headaches were unbearable. They came on while I was asleep
and wouldn’t stop until now. I couldn’t read
or concentrate because the pain was so terrible and became
really depressed. It’s just amazing to feel great
again after being treated for such a short time. I’m
even sleeping through the night for the first time I can
remember.” - Patricia Q.
“The ear
pain and pressure I had before coming here kept me from
martial arts, and sports, and distracted me and made me
really irritable especially at work.
I’m 100% better
since I was treated here. It was fun to come here for treatment
and everyone was exceptional.” - Kristie K.
“Before I came here, I used
to hate the world because of migraines that were so bad
that I passed out two to three times a week. My neurologist
told me the migraines were due to head trauma and the
medication he gave me kept me in bed sleeping almost all
the time. It was miserable to have to live like that.
I became completely anti-social and depressed.
I treated with 12 doctors including
a neurologist, four neurosurgeons and a TMJ specialist
before I came here. No one was anywhere near as thorough
as Dr. Klemons. All the doctors and staff here are awesome.
If I didn’t come here I’d still be suffering.
I don’t know what I’d do without them. ”
- Tamara G.
“The worst problems I had before I came here were headaches, jaw pain, and despair which are all gone now.
Thank you to you and your entire staff. You’ve all been really wonderful.” - Annette H.
“For the past eight years,
when I was dizzy, I was complaining and feeling really
bad and anxious all the time. It also worried me. I’m
absolutely happy that it’s all gone, and I'm really
surprised that it went away so fast. My husband says the
doctors and staff here all get an A+ and I agree.”
- Purnima P.
>
“When I
first came here I was really skeptical and never thought
the pain would go away. It was a horrible time in my life.
I was really depressed. After the treatment started, I began
sleeping again and then the pain started to decrease which
made me calm down. I feel like myself again and I’m
so happy. I feel free as a bird now that the headaches,
face pain, and dizziness are gone. I don’t need to
take Tegretol, Advil, or any other medication. Every person
in this office is really caring and helpful and always answered
all my questions.” - Lioubov P.
