“I feel better. Dr. Yang is an excellent doctor.”

Diana works at a local deli in Sonoma County, preparing food and serving customers. As the sole provider for her 17-year-old son, she depends on her job to support them. Long hours on her feet and repetitive motions took a toll on her body, leading to carpal tunnel syndrome that progressed into multi-level degenerative disc disease. Pain and numbness in her neck and arms made daily tasks difficult and she worried about how much longer she could keep working. 

Diana visited her primary care physician (PCP) at Petaluma Health Center to find a solution for her pain. Unable to qualify for Medi-Cal, uninsured, and unable to afford the out-of-pocket cost of care, Diana feared she would not find relief. Understanding the severity of Diana’s symptoms and her lack of coverage, her PCP referred her to our program for pain management.  

Thankfully Diana qualified for our program and we connected her with Dr. Michael Yang, a pain management specialist from Summit Pain Alliance. Dr. Yang generously donated a cervical epidural injection, performed at Sutter Santa Rosa Surgery and Endoscopy Center. The procedure eased her pain, giving her the ability to continue working and providing for her son. “I feel better. Dr. Yang is an excellent doctor,” Diana shared. 

To support continued healing and strengthening, Dr. Yang has also arranged physical therapy for Diana. With renewed mobility and less pain, Diana can focus on her job and, most importantly, raising her son. 

Story and photo shared with patient’s permission.