Summary
A returning patient from Phoenix, Arizona had first come to Deuk Spine Institute six years earlier after four neurosurgeons recommended a three-to-four level spinal fusion for spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis. A recommendation she refused after a year and a half of research and months of engaging with Dr. Deukmedjian on social media before feeling comfortable enough to proceed. Her Deuk Laser Disc Repair® six years prior had been life-changing. She made another appointment for another problem: she was suffering from piriformis syndrome causing chronic buttock pain affecting her pickleball game despite conservative treatment such as dry needling and physical therapy. After the Deuk Piriformis Release® a 15-minute outpatient procedure under twilight sedation. Her buttock pain was completely and immediately gone, and she was already looking forward to getting back on the court.
Transcript
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: I’m here with a patient who underwent the Deuk Piriformis Release®. This is a minimally invasive procedure to treat the third most common cause of chronic back pain. Which turns out to be a torn buttock muscle. This is a muscle below your gluteus maximus, deep inside, and it’s called the piriformis muscle. It turns out this muscle is really short and very easy to tear. Once it’s torn, it just never heals and you just keep aggravating it with activities. And what was life like for you with this piriformis syndrome before your surgery?
Patient: Not good. Pickleball was affected; just want to say that. So that was kind of the deciding factor. And this was after trying dry needling, PT… you name it, I’ve done it.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Why did you come to Deuk Spine Institute to get your back treated?
Patient: Because I had you six years ago.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Uh-huh. Tell us about that.
Patient: Had back issues lumbar. I have spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, stenosis. It looks bad on pictures. I had really four neurosurgeons recommending anywhere between a three and four-level fusion. And I still did not buy it. I spent a year and a half just researching. And I don’t even know if you know this. I literally stalked you for six months on Facebook and asked you so many questions until I felt comfortable, and that’s how we got here.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: And are you glad that you came to Deuk Spine six years ago to get your back fixed?
Patient: Oh my goodness. My husband can probably give a better testimony than I can because he had to watch the pain that I was in. So he suffered too.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: But you were pretty desperate six years ago. Life was pretty dark for you at that time, wasn’t it?
Patient: Very dark.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: And there are a lot of people out there who are in that same boat right now. What would you say to those people?
Patient: Don’t wait. I waited a year and a half that was longer than I should have. And you’re on the verge of giving up. You know, the surgery is not paid for by insurance. Tried to run it through Blue Cross they would not. It can be expensive. But looking back at the life that I’ve had since then, you can’t put a number on it.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: No, you can’t.
Patient: And even now I waited really too long. I’ve had this piriformis issue for a while. Thought I could fix it on my own. And I’m not kidding you the pain from the surgery is nothing compared to the piriformis pain. I should have done it a long time ago. I waited too long.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: So you came back to Deuk Spine Institute from Phoenix, Arizona, right? You had your piriformis release done at Deuk Spine.
Patient: Yep.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: How do you feel after your piriformis release?
Patient: Oh my goodness. I mean like night and day. I can’t wait to ride. I have not been able to sit stationary in one spot. I was constantly adjusting my weight because of the pain in the buttock.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Yeah. And is that pain still there?
Patient: No. Gone. Completely. Completely.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: That’s right. Because the Deuk Piriformis Release® is the best treatment in the world the safest treatment and the most effective. It lasts a lifetime once we do it. It takes literally 15 minutes to do the procedure under twilight sedation. And you had it done there’s a little bruising, but that’s it.
Patient: Yep.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: And now you’re back with no restrictions and you’re going to have a normal life. All right. Anything else you want to share with your fans out there?
Patient: He’s the guy. Seriously. He’s the guy.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Well, it’s great to see you. Safe travels back home and thanks for sharing your story.
Patient: Yeah. Thanks.
Deuk Piriformis Release at Deuk Spine Institute
This returning patient underwent the Deuk Piriformis Release® at Deuk Spine Institute. A quick, outpatient, and minimally-invasive procedure done under twilight anesthesia for treating piriformis syndrome, which is the third-most prevalent reason for chronic back pain and pain in the buttocks. Piriformis syndrome involves a small, deep muscle that sits underneath the gluteus maximus muscle and is known to be easily torn but will not heal by itself. This results in constant pain that aggravates with movement and does not respond to conservative treatment. The Deuk Piriformis Release® permanently resolves the condition with lifetime results and no restrictions following recovery. This patient had previously undergone the Deuk Laser Disc Repair® six years earlier. Avoiding a three-to-four level spinal fusion that four separate neurosurgeons had recommended and returned to Deuk Spine Institute as her trusted provider for this new source of pain. Patients experiencing buttock pain, sciatic-type symptoms, or chronic lower back pain that has not responded to conservative care are encouraged to submit their MRI for a complimentary MRI review and virtual consultation with Dr. Deukmedjian at Deuk Spine Institute.