Support
Find a Buddy
Amanda's Story
- Location
- Oregon
- Back Story
- SI Joint Degeneration
- Product/Date
- iFuse TORQ® - March 2024, Right Side
Although many patients have benefited from treatment from iFuse procedures, patients' results may vary. SI Buddies are not medical professionals, and their statements should not be interpreted as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider if you think any of this information may apply to you.
Background
I started to notice my lower back pain in 2016. The pain would intensify and radiate down my right leg when I would ride my horse. Once I finished my ride, the leg pain would get better. I consulted my primary care physician (PCP) who ordered an x-ray and determined I had mild arthritis in my right hip. I was sent to physical therapy and given pian medications. I was also given a hip injection. None of these were helpful. My PCP sent me to a pain management physician who ordered more imaging which noted mild arthritis of the right hip and a small disc herniation in my lumbar spine. The pain had now radiated to my right hip as well as the lower back. I had to give up horseback riding and hiking at this point. My pain was affecting my job as I was unable to sit for extended periods of time. I tried lumbar epidural steroid injections and radiofrequency ablation which helped for short periods of time.
Frustrated with the lack of progress, I went back to see my neurosurgeon who had performed a cervical fusion in 2016. He referred me to a new pain management physician. He did a more comprehensive physical examination including provocative testing and ordered a new MRI scan. I now had constant low back, hip, leg and buttock pain. We tried another round of epidural steroid injections with no relief. He then suggested my pain could be coming from my SI joint, and I had a right SI joint injection. I had immediate pain relief from the injection and was offered a more permanent solution to my pain with an SI joint fusion procedure.
Don’t let life go by unnoticed!"
Update
March 2024, I had a right SI joint fusion utilizing the iFuse TORQ® Implant System. I had immediate relief from my leg pain after the procedure. I had surgical pain, but that was manageable. I used a walker for the first few weeks after surgery and progressed to full weight bearing a brief time after that. I am now walking, hiking, and attending yoga classes. I have started playing volleyball again and am back working out at the gym. I am grateful to have my life back.
The SI Buddy® program is reserved for patients who have been diagnosed by a trained surgeon and recommended for the iFuse procedure. SI Buddy volunteers have been successfully treated with an iFuse procedure.
The iFuse TORQ Implant System is indicated for sacroiliac joint fusion for:
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction including sacroiliac joint disruption and degenerative sacroiliitis.
- Augmenting immobilization and stabilization of the sacroiliac joint in skeletally mature patients undergoing sacropelvic fixation as part of a lumbar or thoracolumbar fusion.
The iFuse TORQ Implant System is also indicated for fracture fixation of the pelvis, including acute, non-acute and non-traumatic fractures.
The iFuse TORQ Navigation instruments are intended to be used with the iFuse TORQ Implant System and the Medtronic StealthStation System to assist the surgeon in precisely locating anatomical structures in iFuse TORQ Implant System procedures, in which the use of stereotactic surgery may be appropriate, and where reference to a rigid anatomical structure, such as the pelvis or vertebra, can be identified relative to the acquired image (CT, MR, 2D fluoroscopic image or 3D fluoroscopic image reconstruction) and/or an image data based model of the anatomy.
The TORQ iGPS instruments and iGPS Drill Bits are compatible with Globus ExcelsiusGPS® Instrument Trackers and intended to be used with the iFuse TORQ Implant System and the Globus ExcelsiusGPS® Robotic Navigation System (including the Globus Excelsius3D® Imaging System), which is intended for use as an aid for precisely locating anatomical structures and for spatial positioning and orientation of an instrument holder or guide tube to be used by surgeons for navigating and/or guiding compatible surgical instruments in open or percutaneous procedures provided that the required fiducial markers and rigid patient anatomy can be identified on CT scans or fluoroscopy. Use of the iGPS instruments is limited to use only with 10.0 mm and 11.5 mm fully threaded iFuse TORQ implants.
Healthcare professionals should refer to the Instructions For Use for indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions at https://si-bone.com/label.
There are potential risks associated with iFuse procedures. They may not be appropriate for all patients and all patients may not benefit. For information about the risks, visit https://si-bone.com/risks.
SI-BONE, iFuse Implant System, iFuse TORQ, and SI Buddy are registered trademarks of SI-BONE, Inc. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. ©2025 SI-BONE, Inc. All rights reserved. Patents si-bone.com
Connect with this Buddy
* Required fields