Neurosurgery

April 29, 2019

Woman Relaxed for First Time in Years After Complex Spine Surgery

Katrina Dupins

Denise Frerichs visits Kazemi in his clinic at UAMS.

Last fall, just getting out of a chair and walking from one room to the next was a labored and painful experience for Denise Frerichs. The pain was excruciating and it ran down from her back to her legs. “The pain started about two years ago. At first I thought it would get better. I…

March 18, 2019

Neurostimulator Significantly Reduces Seizures for Missouri Man

Katrina Dupins

Matthew Pinegar visits Viktoras Palys, M.D. in a follow-up appointment after his RNS Surgery.

Matthew Pinegar was 3 months old when he had his first seizure. He was put on medication to keep them at bay, then taken off the medicine in junior high. “It wasn’t until I was 21 when I had my first grand mal,” Pinegar said. “After that happened and I looked back, I’m sure I…

February 15, 2019

Patient Uses FaceTime to Call Family During Brain Surgery

Katrina Dupins

Stephenson and his wife, Brittany, visit UAMS for a checkup.

Before his seizure on May 31, 2018, Chris Stephenson, of Horatio, Ark., had no idea he had a tumor the size of an orange in his brain. He was logging about 4,000 miles a week in his big rig and happened to be driving when the seizure happened. “It took four paramedics to get me…

February 11, 2019

Fort Smith Woman has Fewer Seizures Thanks to Surgical Implant

Katrina Dupins

Viktoras Palys, M.D. examines his patient Tori Hatcher weeks after she receives a surgical implant to reduce seizures.

Feb. 11, 2019 |Tori Hatcher used to wake up many mornings in intense pain due to epileptic seizures. They often happened as she slept. “Sometimes my tongue or lip would be bleeding when I woke up,” Hatcher said. “It’s exhausting. Your whole body tenses up in a seizure. By the time it’s over, you’re so…