Summary
A long-term patient of Dr. Deukmedjian had undergone a spinal fusion years earlier — performed under workers’ compensation when insurance refused the laser alternative — and over time developed severe bilateral sacroiliac joint pain as a result of adjacent segment disease, a common complication of spinal fusion. Having lived with back pain stemming from a five-car accident in 1982, he had endured decades of suffering before returning to Deuk Spine Institute for the now-patented and FDA-approved Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® on both SI joints. The day after his outpatient procedure — with no hospitalization, no bleeding, and only two four-millimeter punctures — he returned reporting 99% improvement, no pain medication, and an emotional gratitude for finally experiencing life without pain for the first time in over 40 years.
Transcript
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Good morning. I’m Dr. Deukmedjian, CEO and founder at Deuk Spine Institute. Here I have a patient who came to us with severe debilitating pain coming from below his spinal fusion in his lower back. He had sacroiliac joint pain on both sides and there was no getting rid of it. There’s only one treatment that works and it’s the Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® offered here at Deuk Spine Institute. It’s now patented and it’s FDA approved. His insurance approved the procedure. He had it done yesterday. How do you feel today?
Patient: Great. Great. Great. At 99% better than I felt two days ago — not kidding you.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: And are you on pain meds?
Patient: No, I’m not.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Did we put you on some new meds that took away your pain, or is this from the procedure we did?
Patient: This is from the procedure.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: And we did it less than 24 hours ago. Here you are — back here. It was outpatient. Your pain is gone. You’re not on any medication. There was no bleeding, no hospitalization necessary, and two tiny little four-millimeter punctures on the skin. You happy?
Patient: Oh, absolutely. I’ll give you a kiss if I liked you.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: You like me?
Patient: Made a hug. Kisses are off limits. My wife is the only one. My kids.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: I’ve known you for a long time. We did your fusion many years ago. Because of the fusion, you wore down those SI joints pretty quick, so that’s why we had to do your procedure. Very common in patients with fusions in their backs. They get what’s called adjacent segment disease. What that means is when you fuse a part of your spine that’s meant to be bending and twisting, that puts strain on other joints above and below and they wear out faster. We do not recommend fusions on anybody or laminectomies, or discectomies because they lead to fusion. We did your fusion many years ago.
Patient: Oh yes.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Your insurance did not want to do the laser. They only wanted to do the fusion. So we did it, and now we’re dealing with some of the consequence of that, right?
Patient: Yeah. Workers’ comp was tough.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: And people say workers’ comp patients don’t get better — is that true?
Patient: Oh no — depending on what doctor you have.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: That’s right. And what treatment you have.
Patient: Yeah, absolutely. If you have the right treatment, workers’ comp patients get better.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Isn’t that true?
Patient: That is absolutely true.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Is there anything you want to tell your fans out there?
Patient: I’d like to start out by telling you. 1982 is when I first had this situation happen, during a five-car accident. And I’ve been living with pain forever. It seems like. Today I don’t have any pain. I mean, I just don’t feel any pain. That’s how far I’ve come along with this man. Without him, I don’t know what I’d have done. One nurse one time gave me a tip — she said, “Go see Dr. Deuk. He’s the best.”
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Well, he is the best; thank you. You are why I do what I do. To help people just like you who are suffering, to try to give you some decency and quality back to your life.
Patient: Even with all the complaining. I said I don’t want it, I don’t want it, I don’t want it and you kept talking me into it. I’m glad you did.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: You’re welcome, my friend. You’re welcome. Enjoy your life.
Patient: Oh, I will. And you too. Thank you. You’re a good guy.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Thank you. I appreciate it. All right, let’s get you out of here.
The Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy®
This patient underwent the Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® for bilateral sacroiliac joint pain at Deuk Spine Institute. The only patented, FDA-approved procedure of its kind for permanent SI joint pain relief. His SI joint deterioration was a direct result of adjacent segment disease. A well-documented complication in which a prior spinal fusion accelerates the breakdown of neighboring joints above and below the fused segment. The Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® was performed as a fully outpatient procedure through two four-millimeter punctures, with no hospitalization, no bleeding, and no narcotic pain medication required. Delivering 99% pain relief within 24 hours. Patients whose insurance previously approved only fusion surgery and are now suffering from the long-term consequences are encouraged to explore the Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® and submit their MRIs for a complimentary review and consultation with Dr. Deukmedjian.