Mark Steadman, a 38-year-old probation officer from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, has undergone a successful surgery to alleviate symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia, a rare condition that affects 12 out of 100,000 people in the UK each year.
A squashed nerve had caused Mark extreme pain, making it impossible for him to tolerate even the slightest touch on his face. According to Mark, the pain was so intense that it felt like being hit in the face with a bolt of lightning or experiencing a thunderstorm.
Mark's condition was diagnosed in 2009, and he experienced up to 250 attacks per day, leaving him unable to perform daily tasks such as washing his face or going outside. He had to take 50 pills a day, which left him feeling like a zombie.
In a six-hour operation at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, surgeons inserted Teflon in Mark's skull to prevent contact between a nearby artery and the affected nerve. The procedure is expected to keep Mark pain-free for at least 10 years.
Mark expressed his relief and joy, stating,
I can't say how wonderful it is to kiss Louise and my kids again. The disease destroyed my life, the pain is so debilitating you can't do anything.
His wife, Louise, 35, also shared her happiness, saying,
I can't describe how good it is to have my husband back. I can't stop kissing Mark now.
