Find a Buddy

I had lumbar fusion surgery in 2009 and again in 2014. I am fused from L-1 to my sacrum. In 2017 I started to experience hip pain bilaterally. The right being more painful than the left. I went back to my orthopedic spine surgeon who performed my lumbar fusion, and he felt my pain might be coming from my SI joints rather than my hip. He explained that patients who have had a prior lumbar fusion are at greater risk of developing SI joint dysfunction. He sent me for SI joint therapeutic injections and prescribed diclofenac. The injections did work for short durations, and I had several over the course of a year. My pain was not getting any better, so my surgeon suggested an SI joint fusion surgery. I agreed and we attempted to get approval from my insurance company. They denied my procedure saying it was “experimental”. My pain was now grinding on the right side. I also had pain on the left, but not as severe as the right. I was still working full-time as an administrative assistant for the school district. Walking and sitting were becoming more difficult. I had to use the scooter to shop at Costco and the grocery store. During the appeal process I was sent to pain management. I was now taking tramadol, muscle relaxants, and wearing a 5% lidocaine patch 12 hours a day for pain relief. SI-BONE did assist with my appeal process, but we were unable to get the denial reversed.

In 2019, I turned 65 years old and retired from the school district. I was able to change insurance to Medicare with a supplemental plan from UnitedHealth Care. January 2021, I had a right SI joint fusion utilizing the iFuse TORQ® Implant System. After surgery, I was partial weight-bearing for 6 weeks utilizing a walker. The recovery was easier than after my lumbar fusion procedures. I had bending, lifting, and twisting restrictions. I attended physical therapy which helped with muscle stiffness.

My right SI joint pain resolved with surgery, but I continued to have pain in the left. The pain had now moved to my lower back. I continued with pain management and my prior medication regimen. My surgeon sent me for a left diagnostic SI joint injection which confirmed my SI joint was a source of my pain. In March 2022, I had a left SI joint fusion utilizing the iFuse TORQ® Implant System. Recovery seemed even easier with the second procedure because I knew what to expect. I had the same weight-bearing restrictions as well as limitations of bending, lifting, and twisting. I was released to all normal activity following my second SI joint fusion in September of 2020. I now can walk my dog and enjoy working in my garden pain free!