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Scott's Story
- Location
- California
- Back Story
- SI Joint Degeneration
- Product/Date
- iFuse TORQ® - February 2024 right side, November 2024 left 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.
“I am now able to enjoy my senior years with enhanced mobility, with no pain in my SI joints!”
Background
I am a disabled Vietnam veteran and retired wildland firefighter of 30 years. I have done hard physical work my whole life. I imagine that the wear and tear of my career has contributed to my lower back pain for the past 10 years.
Several years ago, I started to develop increasing lower back pain. The pain was in the upper buttock region. I felt like my legs would give out. Rising from sitting to standing was difficult. I also had pain radiating down my legs. I began seeing a pain management physician who recommended physical therapy and epidural steroid injections for my lumbar spine. I also had numerous radio frequency ablations in that area. These therapies did offer some relief and helped me to walk better, but I still had nagging pain in the upper buttock area and pain radiating down my legs. I eventually had to give up hiking and sailing. Walking in general was difficult.
In 2023, I was referred to another pain management physician for a minimally invasive procedure to treat lumbar spinal stenosis. This procedure did relieve some pressure on the nerves in my lower spine. It did not help the symptoms in the buttock area. This physician thought some of my pain could be coming from my SI joints. She performed provocative testing and sent me for a right diagnostic SI joint injection. After the injection, my buttock and leg pain were totally gone. I could have danced off the exam table! She determined that a significant portion of my pain was coming from my right SI joint and offered me an SI joint fusion utilizing the iFuse TORQ® Implant System.
In February 2024 I had a right SI joint fusion. I could tell right away my SI joint pain was gone. After a short time on a walker and cane, along with physical therapy, the pain on my
right side was gone. I gradually increased my walking and activity level. In October of 2024 I noticed pain on my left side. I was sent for a left diagnostic SI joint injection which provided total relief from my pain. In November of 2024 I had the left SI joint fused. Recovery was similar to the right side. While I still have issues with my lumbar spine, my bilateral SI joint pain has completely resolved. I have no pain with sitting, standing, or laying down and can change positions without discomfort. I wish I had found SI-BONE earlier. My bilateral SI joint fusions have allowed me to get back to doing things I have always enjoyed!
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
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