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I fell off a roof when I was younger and landed striking my left buttock on a metal fence post. I began having pain in the lower back and buttock, mostly on the left side, after that fall. It was manageable for many years, but in 2018 the pain began to affect my life substantially. I have been physically active my entire life. I am a marathon runner, triathlete, hunter and dirt biker. The pain became so bad I was not able to participate in any of these activities. I noticed the pain most when I was standing. This began my 5-year journey of doing anything and everything I could to get a diagnosis. I had to see multiple doctors and deal with insurance companies. I never got a clear diagnosis. Treatments were general and not really helpful. They said, “try physical therapy, ibuprofen and rest.” I had numerous MRI’s, x-rays, and had more physical therapy. I was told there was nothing they could do for me. I was not satisfied with that. The pain stopped me from living my life the way I wanted to live. I started to do research on my own and discovered the “SI joint”. 

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I self-diagnosed myself with SI joint dysfunction and continued to see physicians all over New Hampshire. My pain had become crippling. I was still trying to run but it became impossible. I continued with physical therapy and was still trying to find a physician who could diagnose my pain. I was familiar with an orthopedic practice in Nashua, New Hampshire and decided to schedule a consultation. I met with the surgeon and told him my story and that I believed my pain was coming from my SI joint. He agreed with me and said everything I described sounded like arthritis of my SI joint. He sent me for a diagnostic SI joint injection which temporarily took away my pain completely. I got up after the injection and 5 years of pain was gone. I had a second diagnostic injection with the same result. I was offered an SI joint fusion utilizing the iFuse Implant System®. 

I found the SI Buddy® program provided by SI-BONE®. I connected with SI Buddy Richard who gave me reassurance and shared his SI journey. In 2022 I had a left SI joint fusion utilizing the iFuse Implant System®. I woke up from surgery with incisional pain, but my deep SI joint pain was gone. I started to notice more pain in my right SI joint once the left side was completely healed. I returned to my surgeon and went through the same testing and diagnostic injections. In 2023 I had my right SI joint fused. I am back to all my normal activities with no restrictions. I have my life back thanks to SI-BONE and the iFuse Implant System.