For as long as she can remember, 46-year-old June Napolitano has been drawn to helping people. A lifelong Gaylord nurse, she’s spent her entire career caring for patients and, for the last seven years, responding to emergencies as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in her community.
But recently, years of demanding physical work started to take a toll on her back.
“Between lifting patients, doing tough field work, and hauling heavy gear, I’ve put a strain on my back more times than I can count,” June says. “Honestly, I don’t know a nurse, EMT, or firefighter who doesn’t have, or has had, some kind of back issue.”
Several years ago, while vacationing overseas, June slipped a disc and returned home in a wheelchair.
“That was the worst,” she recalls. “I herniated a disc and couldn’t move without severe pain.”
Finding Relief without Surgery
That’s when June turned to Dr. Annette Macannuco-Winslow, an interventional pain specialist and head of Gaylord’s new Interventional Pain Center, which specializes in targeted, non-surgical, and non-opioid pain treatments.
“Dr. Macannuco-Winslow has been amazing,” June says. “She doesn’t rush. She listens, explains everything, and figures out what’s going to help you most.”
Over the last five years, June has received facet injections, epidurals, and sacroiliac (SI) joint injections - treatments that pinpoint and calm the pain at its source.
“The injections have made a big difference,” she says. “Sometimes I walk out feeling better right away, and as the medicine takes effect, it can last for months. It makes my day-to-day life a lot easier.”
June also pairs her interventional treatments with Gaylord outpatient physical therapy.
“The PT helps the injections last longer,” she says. “It keeps me moving and helps me avoid surgery.”
A Family Connection
June isn’t the only one in her family who has benefited from Dr. Macannuco-Winslow’s expertise. Her mother and husband, Ron, have also turned to her for help managing their own persistent pain.
“My mom’s back is in bad shape from arthritis. She struggles with pain daily that affects her ability to walk. Unfortunately, she’s not a candidate for surgery,” June says. “These treatments have helped her pain and kept her mobile. She’s had facet injections, epidurals, and radio-frequency ablation, and each one gives her relief.”
Ron, a former Army serviceman and longtime mechanic, has faced years of back and neck pain. But when he recently “tried to build a patio in one day instead of two,” his neck pain became unbearable.
“The pain was intense. I couldn’t get off the couch,” Ron recalls. “June had to take me to the ER.”
Afterward, even simple movements became difficult. “Driving is hard. Sleeping is hard. Even looking up at the ceiling comes with a price,” he says.
Before beginning treatment, Dr. Macannuco-Winslow ordered an MRI of his spine to check for any stabilization issues – a step that impressed both June and Ron.
“That level of thoroughness really matters,” June says.
Ron now receives fluoroscopy-guided steroid injections and trigger point treatments to calm nerve pain caused by arthritis. Soon, he will undergo radiofrequency ablation to deactivate the specific nerve driving his pain. Like June, he pairs these treatments with outpatient physical therapy to rebuild strength and mobility.
“I don’t want to take pain meds,” Ron says. “The treatments and therapy let me work around the house and move without paying for it later.”
More than Pain Relief
For June, Gaylord’s approach has meant more than just pain relief.
“I’m technically a candidate for surgery, but I don’t want to take that step,” she says. “Staying out of the OR and staying on the front line - that’s always been the goal.”
