Published on September 29, 2024
Marilyn remembers that after her lower back pain gradually worsened, she “couldn’t even walk.” She had previously been treated for neck pain by Dr. Jonathan Daitch, a board-certified interventional pain management physician, so she sought his care again.
After careful review of the diagnostic imaging, Dr. Deitch explained to Marilyn that her pain was due to inflammation of the sacroiliac joints.
The sacrum is a large wedge-shaped bone located at the base of the spine in the pelvis. The sacroiliac joint (SI) connects the sacrum to the ilium, and the sides of the sacrum look like “wings.”
Pain occurs when the sacroiliac joints become misaligned or the cartilage wears away. Damage to the SI joint can be caused by:
◗ Aging
◗ Trauma
◗ Curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
◗ Internal rotation of the ankle (flat feet)
◗ Previous lumbar fusion surgery
Nearly 20-30% of back pain is caused by the sacroiliac joints. Women and women who have undergone lumbar spine surgery have higher rates of sacroiliac joint pain and dysfunction.
Sacroiliac joint pain usually occurs in the waist and below. For some people, the pain extends into the groin and back of the thigh. As Marilyn experienced, the pain can be “excruciating.”
To quickly relieve her back and leg pain, Dr. Deitch administered injections. While these restored comfort and mobility, regular injections were still required so that Marilyn could remain active in a position overseeing a large number of call center workers.
When Dr. Deitch mentioned a new treatment that could provide long-term relief, Marilyn was interested. “I didn’t hesitate,” she shared. “No one trusts Dr. Deitch as much as I do. He is easy to talk to and easy to get along with.
SI Fusion surgery can restore freedom of movement by eliminating sacroiliac joint pain. It is minimally invasive (non-surgical in nature) and requires only about 20 minutes of surgical time.
Most SI Fusion patients experience significant improvements almost immediately. For others, the full effects of the procedure may take 2 to 3 months. However, SI Fusion patients can expect an overall improvement rate of about 80% in their sacroiliac pain after full recovery.
The surgery is performed at Parker Surgery Center, a certified ambulatory surgery center. Patients are treated with sedation while comfortably in dusk sleep and return home after several hours of recovery.
Marilyn had several relatives to help during her recovery, but she found that “it seemed to come quickly.” Although Marilyn initially had some limitations in bending or walking, she immediately noticed improved mobility. “I was able to stand up straight and walk up the steps without having to grab the railing to pull myself up,” she shared.
Within weeks, Marilyn was walking a mile a day and laughing at her employees that they couldn’t keep up with her.
As Marilyn now looks forward to restarting her scuba diving certification program, she recalls, “Pain can become a way of life. It affects every day. Now, she sees a life ahead that is vibrant and busy. Days – hopefully many more underwater diving adventures to come!
Dr. Daitch founded Advanced Pain Management & Spine Specialists in 2001 as the area’s only clinic dedicated exclusively to pain management. Since then, they have earned a reputation for providing some of the most advanced techniques and techniques for pain management in Southwest Florida.
Dr. Daitch was one of the first doctors in Southwest Florida to perform this advanced SI Fusion procedure.
To learn more about SI Fusion or other programs, visit: www.Pain Relief Institute of America.net or call 352-397-4930.
