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His doctor’s prescription for his unbearable pain seemed absurd. It worked.
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Gregory Maassen experienced a severe burning sensation that spread across his body, leading to a diagnosis of small-fiber sensory neuropathy by neurologist Ahmet Hoke after over a year of undiagnosed symptoms.
- Maassen's condition, confirmed by a skin biopsy, is a rare peripheral neuropathy often missed by standard nerve conduction tests, and he believes it was triggered by tick bites.
- Prescribed pain medication and encouraged to exercise, Maassen found relief and improvement through e-biking, which helped reduce his pain and improve his mood despite initial skepticism.
- Inspired by his recovery, Maassen founded an e-bike group and undertook cross-country rides to raise funds for neuropathy research, raising over $210,000 combined from his trips.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine is using the funds to develop new treatments aimed at regenerating nerve fibers, with Maassen planning to continue supporting neuropathy research while balancing personal commitments.
