Dr. Buchanan Helps His Patient Make a Full LinQ to Life Recovery
Prior to dealing with chronic SI joint pain, Andrea had always been passionate about staying active and spending quality time with her family. From playing racquetball to spending the day horseback riding, she enjoyed many activities that allowed her to stay in shape and have fun. However, after about 20 years of dealing with pain in her lower back, she was at her wit’s end and didn’t know where to turn.
That was until she decided to seek the help of Dr. Patrick Buchanan at Spanish Hills Pain Management. It was there that she was first introduced to the LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System – a procedure that would ultimately change her life and allow her to once again enjoy the things she loves most.
Andrea Begins Searching for Pain Relief
Andrea’s back pain began in 2001, which led her to undergo an L4-S1 spinal fusion. However, this procedure provided her with little relief, and her pain worsened over time. Then in early 2022, she had an accident on the racquetball court which further aggravated her pain.
“The pain ruined my life. It impacted everything I was doing, from being active to being able to enjoy time with my family. It was a constant mental stressor that I was dealing with every single day,” Andrea said.
Initially, she thought her throbbing pain was coming from her lower back, so she tried almost everything to find a solution. This included chiropractic appointments, injections, acupuncture, stretching, pain medication, and using a TENs unit. But no matter what she tried, nothing gave her the long-lasting relief she needed.
Andrea Finally Discovers the Root of Her SI Joint Pain
With few options left, Andrea was desperate to find a solution. This drove her to make a life-changing decision and seek the help of Dr. Buchanan. After a thorough consultation and examination, it was determined that her SI joint was the root cause of all her pain and not her back. After her diagnosis, Dr. Buchanan recommended the LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System procedure. In hopes of finally ending her 20-year battle with pain, Andrea decided she would give it a try.
Dr. Buchanan Helps Andrea Get Her Life Back
Through the minimally invasive LinQ procedure, Dr. Buchanan was able to successfully stabilize Andrea’s SI joint. This allowed her to finally experience the relief she had been searching for all those years.
“I right away noticed a difference,” Andrea said. “After about a week, the soreness at the incision site subsided, and I realized – I didn’t have any pain! I couldn’t believe it, I kept waiting for the pain to come back, and it just never did. Very hard to believe that after 20 years, the pain is gone. It’s remarkable.”
Andrea now lives pain-free and has stopped taking pain medication altogether. She is working towards returning to an active lifestyle and looks forward to horseback riding and playing racquetball again. Before her procedure, she was in constant pain, and her quality of life was greatly impacted. Now, she is finally living her life to the fullest and enjoying every minute.
“Not being in constant pain has been the greatest both physical and mental break. [LinQ] worked better than I expected. I truly feel that I was on the wrong trajectory, and this surgery saved me from that path and from my behavior due to the pain,” Andrea said.
How Does the LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System Work?
The LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat pain caused by instability in the SI joint. This innovative procedure gives patients the opportunity to reduce and even eliminate pain from SI joint dysfunction. After a thorough consultation and examination, a single LinQ allograft about the size of an almond is placed into the dysfunctional SI joint. This helps stabilize the joint and often provides long-lasting pain relief.
The LinQ procedure typically takes less than one hour to complete, and most patients are able to return home the same day. In addition, by taking a posterior approach, the surgeon can avoid major nerves and blood vessels. This may result in a shorter recovery time, less pain for the patient, and a reduced risk of complications compared to traditional SI fusion.
Start Your LinQ to Life Journey Today
Are you dealing with chronic back pain that is impacting your quality of life? Have you exhausted all other treatment options with little to no relief? If so, the LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System may be the right treatment for you. To learn more about this life-changing procedure and find a skilled provider near you, contact PainTEQ today.
If you are a provider interested in taking your practice to the next level with the LinQ system, we would love to hear from you. Click here to get in touch with a member of our team.
