Supported by a Dedicated Care Team, a Westport Man Finds Relief from Chronic Pain

For Martin Costa of Westport, getting chronic pain under control was a team effort – led by a committed primary care physician.

Forty years ago, Martin experienced one of the most serious injuries imaginable when he broke his back after falling from a swing that had snapped off a tree limb. Only in his 20s, Martin suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the knees down – but he was determined not to be held back from enjoying a fulfilling and productive life. He sought out specialists across the country and ultimately underwent eight fusion surgeries.

The surgeries helped Martin regain enough mobility that he could walk (with a walker at first, and then two canes), drive, and maintain two careers – as a mobile DJ and director of his family’s Westport Camping Ground.

Despite this progress, however, Martin couldn’t relieve the severe pain that afflicted him on a daily basis. Through research and consultations, Martin was diagnosed with Adhesive Arachnoiditis (AA), a rare, chronic neurological disorder that causes scar tissue to form in the spine, leading to severe pain and nerve damage.

Once Martin understood that he would be living with this incurable, painful condition, he knew he would have to find effective and safe long-term pain relief. At Southcoast Health Brain & Spine’s Pain Management Program at Charlton Memorial Hospital, he began his journey toward pain relief. As Martin recalls, “I knew that long-term opioid treatment was recommended for AA but I was still concerned about safety. I needed a provider who would walk me through the process step by step, and the team did just that.”

The Nurse Practitioner at Charlton Memorial was responsible for a change in Martin’s care that truly transformed his recovery from pain. “I had been working exclusively with specialists, but my NP explained how important it was to have a Primary Care Provider who could advocate for me and coordinate my care,” he says.

In 2021, Martin was referred to Southcoast Health Primary Care Provider Stephanie Lawrence, MD in Swansea.

“Dr. Lawrence advocated for me as if I were a member of her own family,” he says. “She explained that given the complexity of my condition, I needed a multi-disciplinary team – and she got me one.”

Within weeks of his initial visit, Dr. Lawrence had recruited Southcoast Health providers for Martin’s care team, including a pharmacist, neurologist, orthopedist, gastroenterologist, counselor, and a home care nurse.

According to Martin, “Having a team of specialists who all talk to each other and know my case has been life-changing. They are all so proactive, suggesting new strategies that can help improve my quality of life, whether it’s trying a new pain patch or managing medication side effects. My providers are also wonderfully responsive. If I’m worried about anything – like when I felt anxious about changing medications – they take the time to listen and address the problem.”

“I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Lawrence for being so invested in my health. In fact, she is my 97-year-old mother’s PCP as well, and my mother couldn’t be happier with her.”  

Throughout his journey, Martin became an educated and engaged patient. He has worked with Arachnoiditis Hope, an organization that raises money for AA research, and has shared his story with schools and civic organizations on behalf of the Spinal Cord Society.

Today, Martin is doing better than ever. His pain does come back sometimes, and can be severe, but he knows how to treat it safely. He still works with his entire care team and is grateful for how much they’ve helped him over the years.

“It’s comforting to know that we can access high-quality care for even the most complex medical conditions right here in our backyard,” he says. “In other words, Boston doesn’t always have all the answers! I have recommended Southcoast Health to literally everyone in my life who needs healthcare.”