Joan's Story

Joan, 72, had been living with chronic pain for more than a decade. The pain in her back, hips, and legs made it difficult to move. Some days, she could manage. Other days, she found herself stuck in bed without hope of a real solution.

She had seen doctor after doctor. One pushed injections before ordering any imaging. Another prescribed antidepressants. And another actually recommended yoga. She heard phrases like “non-specific pain” and “age-related discomfort,” but never a real diagnosis. Paperwork, bills, and medication piled up.

Nothing worked.

By the time Joan found Solace, she had lost trust in the healthcare system—and strongly suspected she’d never find pain relief.

Joan was matched with a Solace advocate who took her pain seriously—and saw what others had missed.

Everything changed when Joan met Molly, a Solace advocate with a nursing background and years of experience supporting patients with complex conditions. After listening to Joan’s story and reviewing her records, Molly noticed that no provider had fully investigated whether the problem might be coming from Joan’s spine. She researched nearby spine specialists who were known for treating chronic pain.

Molly located a Medicare-covered expert and got Joan an appointment within weeks—not months. Molly handled the paperwork and confirmed insurance coverage. She also joined the appointment by phone to ask questions and take notes. Joan didn’t have to juggle any of it alone.

Joan’s new doctor ordered imaging, confirmed a diagnosis of spinal stenosis with neuropathy, and developed a non-surgical treatment plan including targeted physical therapy and nerve pain medication. For the first time in years, Joan had a name for her pain, a strategy that made sense, and a care team that listened.

Within weeks, she was walking more, sleeping better, and feeling more like herself again.

Joan’s chronic pain hasn’t disappeared—but now it’s being treated the right way. And whatever happens next, she’s not facing it alone.

We’ve changed some names to protect personal health information, and this isn’t Joan’s actual photo—but Joan is a real person, and this is her story with Solace. Used with permission.