Florida Firefighter Finds Pain Relief At UM Health System

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A firefighter from Indian River County is back to work and feeling like a new man after an operation in South Florida. The procedure solved a medical mystery that lasted six years.

Dan Brooks, a father of four, has plenty to smile about these days and a good reason to be grateful to Dr. Eric Peterson.

"He's my new best friend. Incredible," said Brooks. I don't know why it was meant to work out that way but it did and I don't really care why."

About six years ago, Brooks started feeling a mysterious pain on the side of his face.

"I got this extremely sharp pain in my head on the right side. I didn't know what it was. It lasted for a few seconds, went away came back a couple of times and went away again for a couple of months," he explained.

Click here to watch Eliott Rodriguez's report. 

The pain started getting worse and occurred more often and got stronger.

"I tried acupuncture, I thought it was a cracked tooth, I tried pain therapy, chiropractors, a little bit of everything, MRI's. Nothing ever showed anything."

Finally, Brooks went to see Dr. Peterson at the University of Miami Health System.

He immediately diagnosed the problem as Trigeminal Neuralgia, a condition that affects a facial nerve that carries sensation to the brain.

"The pain is classic lancinating, sharp, electric shock like sharp stabbing pain. It's text book," explained Dr. Peterson.

Making an incision behind an ear, Dr. Peterson lifted a small artery that was rubbing against the nerve, which finally alleviated the pain.

"It's a world of change for me," said Brooks. "I'm just happy, completely relaxed and not a lot of care anymore."

Trigeminal Neuralgia affects about 150-thousand people a year, most of them over age 50.