This is a bittersweet read for me. My husband's coworker and friend went through something similar. His wife had such severe RA that she was in constant daily pain. They tried everything with no success until the only option left was something similar to ECT and an induced coma which could possibly reset her pain receptors. But it would also completely wipe her memory.

They went through with it as a last resort and he stayed and took care of her and she had no memory of him. This went on for about two years before he died of an unexpected heart attack.

It fucks me up that he never got his wife back and now she's left confused and alone.