SCS Success Stories: Joao B.
Hey everyone! I’m Joao from Brazil, and I’m really excited to share my story with you about my journey with epidural stimulation treatment. Dr. Rodrigo Vilches once called me one of their ‘star patients,’ and I’m pumped to talk about everything I’ve experienced and the progress I’ve made.
The Beginning and Early Struggles
I’m 24 now, but back in 2018, my life took a dramatic turn. I had a severe accident—I fell 10 meters and ended up breaking the T9 vertebra in my spine. The doctors told me it was a complete spinal cord injury, which meant I’d never walk again. Before that, I was super independent and really into sports, so hearing that was crushing. But I’ve learned to adapt over time, and things have improved.
Life Before and After Treatment
Before I began my treatment, I couldn’t move anything below my chest—nothing. I did tons of therapy, but I needed braces just to stand, and I had zero voluntary muscle contractions. That’s when epidural stimulation came into the picture, and it changed everything. Now, I can actually move my muscles voluntarily, and guess what? I’m walking. It feels like I’ve gone from a complete injury to something more like an incomplete one.
After my initial 35-day treatment, I saw results almost immediately. The post-surgery mapping was a game changer—it allowed me to move my legs and gave me better control over my trunk. Over the past year, I’ve been working hard to strengthen my quads and glutes with the goal of standing and walking without any help.
Managing Spasms and Keeping Up with Physiotherapy
One thing that did change after the surgery was an increase in spasms. But instead of seeing it as a setback, I took it as a good sign. It meant that my legs were getting stronger, and I could stand up without needing the stimulator programmed in.
Physiotherapy has been vital to my progress. The more I use the stimulator, the more my body connects and adapts to the stimulus. It’s been a continuous journey of improvement, and the results have been amazing.
Back for More Treatment
Coming back for more treatment has been such a positive experience. My big goal is to walk independently with a walker, so all my programs focus on building stronger muscles and walking independently. I’ve seen some incredible improvements, especially with my legs getting tighter and gaining more vascularity. I’m confident that by this time next year, I’ll be walking with a walker.
Standing, Walking, and Feeling More
With epidural stimulation, I can now stand by myself and even walk a bit with a walker. At first, I needed a lot of help, but now I’m locking my knees and starting to walk more on my own.
I’ve also gained some sensitivity below my injury level. I’ve started feeling vibrations in my hips, which is pretty exciting. While the motor function improvements have been more noticeable, the sensitivity gains are definitely encouraging.
Improvements in Bladder, Bowel, and Sexual Function
Since my last treatment, my bladder control has improved greatly. Although I didn’t adapt well to a specific peeing program, my bladder function is much stronger overall.
As for sexual function, I didn’t lose it after the accident, but it has definitely improved with the stimulation. I’m also experiencing more sensitivity, which is a big plus.
Neuropathic Pain and A Promising Future
I didn’t have much neuropathic pain initially, but now I’m feeling more sensations in my back due to increased sensitivity. I actually see this as a positive sign of progress. The first-ever use of epidural stimulation was for treating neuropathic pain, so it’s useful for that as well.
Choosing to go through with this surgery was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The remapping sessions give me continuous opportunities for improvement, and I highly recommend this treatment to anyone who has the chance.
The New Facility and Looking Forward
The new facility in Mexico is fantastic! Everything is in one place, which makes training and resting much more efficient. The routine is challenging, but it’s so worth it.
When I’m home, I attend therapy three times a week at a clinic and do extra exercises on my own. My main goal is to stand up whenever possible and start walking with a walker.
I have a fantastic team of doctors and therapists at the Nurato facility in Mexico. Without them, none of this would be possible. Please meet my team:
Dr. Rodrigo Vilches Aranguren, MD
Medical Director, Mexico
Dr. Rodrigo Vilches Aranguren, who is currently based in Guadalajara, Mexico, works with patients to optimize the mapping process and achieve maximum muscle response.
Attending Physician, Mexico
Dr. Paulina Marin is a Doctor of Medicine with a specialization in Neuropathy. She is the attending physician to the Verita Neuro patients and helps them through their recovery. She is based in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Continued Success
Staying in good shape has been crucial for my progress. I focus on gym workouts to build resistance, and it’s really helping with my physical therapy.
I hope my story can inspire others who are facing similar challenges. It’s not magic—it takes hard work and dedication. But with the right treatment and mindset, fantastic progress is possible. You can watch my full interview on our YouTube channel for a more detailed account.
I think it's also really important for you to remember what Joao said -
he worked a lot and did a lot of physical therapy.
IT IS NOT MAGIC!
You need to do the treatment and after that continue working on the programs.