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Susie's Story
- Location
- North Carolina
- Back Story
- SI Joint Degeneration
- iFuse Implant Procedure Date
- March, 2016 Left side
"Since my SI surgery, I am back to living my active life again."
Background
In 2008, Susie was experiencing low back pain symptoms and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. She underwent a lumbar laminectomy that resolved most of her pain for several years. She worked in medical sales and was very active. She loved to walk, hike and kayak. In 2015, Susie began to notice pain in her left outer thigh and in the left mid-buttock area. “It felt like a pulling and burning sensation.” She managed her pain with oral non-steroidal medications (NSAIDs) and topical anesthetic sprays, and was able to continue working and staying active.
In January of 2016, her pain had become much worse and Susie found it difficult to walk and sleep. She had to give up kayaking because she could no longer sit for long periods of time. She consulted with her primary care physician (PCP) who ordered a lumbar MRI and diagnosed her with multiple disc herniations. She was referred to an orthopedic spine surgeon to discuss her treatment options.
After reviewing Susie’s previous medical and surgical history, current imaging scans, and performing a full physical exam which included provocative testing of her sacroiliac (SI) joints, she was told she had multiple problems. The surgeon suggested a left SI joint diagnostic injection to determine if her pain could be coming from her SI joint.
Susie had a diagnostic SI joint injection and was instructed to walk a long distance during the anesthetic phase of the procedure and report the status of her pain. Because she was able to walk pain free while the numbing medicine was in the SI joint, she was told that her pain was likely coming from her SI joint and that she was a candidate for the iFuse Procedure™.
“I woke up with surgical discomfort, but all my SI joint symptoms were gone.”
Susie
Update
In March of 2016, Susie had a left SI joint fusion utilizing the iFuse Implant System®. “I woke up with surgical discomfort, but all my SI joint symptoms were gone.” Susie utilized crutches at home for four weeks and was then allowed to walk unassisted. She was soon able to walk 2-4 miles daily. Susie has gone back to hiking, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. Susie is now semi-retired, works as a marketing consultant, and travels a great deal.
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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