Seen whole

Thomas had been living with chronic back pain for almost a decade. Two surgeries. Rounds of physical therapy. And through most of it, a prescription for opioid pain medication that helped him function — and, over time, became something he depended on in ways he hadn’t expected.

He wasn’t hiding it. He knew what was happening. But knowing and knowing what to do about it are two different things. Thomas managed his days carefully, took his medication, went to his appointments, and kept most of his worry to himself.

When a WellSense Care Manager named Sandra first reached out, Thomas figured it would be a routine call. A check-in. A few questions about his prescriptions.
It turned into something else.

Sandra took her time. She asked about his pain, yes, but she also asked about his sleep, his mood, whether he was still doing the things he liked to do. Thomas told her he had stopped fishing. That he didn’t see his brother much anymore. That some days the medication barely touched the pain, but he was afraid of what stopping it might mean.

“She didn’t make me feel like a problem,” Thomas said. “She made me feel like she was trying to understand the whole thing.”

Sandra worked with Thomas’s care team to get a clearer picture of where his pain management stood and what other options might help. She connected him with a pain specialist who could review his treatment plan and talk through alternatives. At the same time, she made sure Thomas knew that support was available if he wanted help addressing his dependence on the medication. She didn’t push. She laid out the options and let him lead.

Thomas decided he was ready. He started working with an addiction medicine provider while continuing his pain care. Sandra stayed in regular contact throughout. When a scheduling issue threatened to delay one of his follow-up appointments, she helped get it sorted. When Thomas had a hard week and called her, she picked up.

It took months. There were harder stretches and easier ones. But Thomas stayed with it.

Today, his pain is better managed through a combination of non-opioid treatments and lower-dose medication under close medical supervision. He’s back to fishing on weekends. He’s talking to his brother again.

Thomas says Sandra saw him as a whole person, not just a chart. That made the difference.

His story is a reminder that pain and dependency can exist together — and that the right support can help someone address both.

Names and locations have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.