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Cara's Story
- Location
- Texas
- Back Story
- Pregnancy Related
- iFuse Implant Procedure Date
- July, 2012 Left side
"The iFuse procedure opened a door that has allowed me to enjoy my life once again."
Background
Cara gave birth to the first of her three children in 2000. During labor she experienced complications that she feels caused her debilitating lower back, pelvis and left leg pain. After Cara was discharged from the hospital her left leg became numb and she had increased pain in her buttocks and hip.
Cara’s general practitioner ordered an MRI but the images did not reveal why she was experiencing so much pain. Later that day her GP ordered a lumbar steroid injection which provided no pain relief. Cara was sent home with medication and a physical therapy referral.
As the weeks went on, Cara avoided any activity that could aggravate her pain. “As the months passed, I carefully learned how to plan my day. For example, I avoided grocery shopping if it was a laundry day to ensure not to overdo it. This method didn’t always work however and some days the pain was so overwhelming, all I could do was lay down and wait for it to pass.”
For twelve years Cara endured pain while trying to participate as much as possible in her young children’s lives. Cara’s sister convinced her to make an appointment to see a well-known doctor at the local spine center.
The doctor recognized that Cara may be experiencing prominent sacroiliac joint disruption symptoms and introduced her to another surgeon in his practice who had experience treating the SI joint. That introduction changed Cara’s life. After further examination, Cara was diagnosed with SI joint disruption and was recommended for the iFuse Implant System.
“Thanks to the iFuse, I have been able to overcome what seemed at the time to be insurmountable obstacles and I am enjoying life again.”
Cara
Update
In July 2012, Cara underwent the iFuse System procedure. During the first few weeks of recovery, Cara began feeling better and recalls that her SI joint pain faded within a month. Today she no longer experiences SI joint pain. Cara can comfortably sit through her children’s sporting events and she no longer has to make choices between a load of laundry or unloading the dishwasher. Cara feels blessed that she has resumed her busy life as a mother of three young boys and is working on her master’s degree. “Thanks to the iFuse, I have been able to overcome what seemed at the time to be insurmountable obstacles and I am enjoying life again.”
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 the iFuse Implant System®. Although many patients have benefited from treatment with the iFuse Implant System, patients' results may vary. They are not medical professionals and their statements should not be interpreted as medical advice.
The iFuse Implant System® is intended for sacroiliac fusion for conditions including sacroiliac joint dysfunction that is a direct result of sacroiliac joint disruption and degenerative sacroiliitis. This includes conditions whose symptoms began during pregnancy or in the peripartum period and have persisted postpartum for more than 6 months. The iFuse Implant System is also intended for sacroiliac fusion to augment immobilization and stabilization of the sacroiliac joint in skeletally mature patients undergoing sacropelvic fixation as a part of a lumbar or thoracolumbar fusion. In addition, the iFuse Implant System is intended for sacroiliac fusion in acute, non-acute, and non-traumatic fractures involving the sacroiliac joint.
There are potential risks associated with the iFuse Implant System. It may not be appropriate for all patients and all patients may not benefit. For information about the risks, talk to your doctor and visit: www.si-bone.com/risks. Rx Only.
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