Relief From Back Pain: Cynthia's Story

The onset of severe back pain was an unwelcome surprise for Cynthia and Austin as they planned their wedding. Cynthia’s pain was so unbearable that the couple opted for a small private wedding. But now that the 29-year-old oil and gas sales rep is pain-free, the couple looks forward to celebrating in Mexico this fall.

The ordeal harkened back to a health scare Cynthia had ten years ago when she underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor from her sacrum near the base of her spine. Last September, she felt intense pain in the same area. 

“It felt like I was sitting on a bunch of knives, and it would not go away, anytime I was sitting, standing or even lying down. I would call my husband in tears every single day on my way home from work because I was in so much pain. It was really taking a toll on my mental health,” she recalled.

An X-ray revealed a suspicious area on her spine, and her orthopedist referred her to Lorenzo Deveza, MD, PhD, an Orthopedic Oncologist at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Deveza ordered further scans and a biopsy, which was negative for cancer. According to Dr. Deveza, the scans and biopsy showed there was a sclerotic or thickened area where the tumor had been removed, causing instability.   

Advanced Treatment for Chronic Back Pain

“The tumor was gone, but it eroded the bone and left a space that was causing instability,” Dr. Deveza explained. “After we identified that as the source of her pain, we placed transacral screws across the sacrum at the S1 and S2 levels. That stabilized her pelvis and alleviated her pain.”

The outpatient procedure was minimally invasive, leaving only two small incisions on either side of the pelvis. 

Finding Relief After Back Surgery

Within two weeks of the procedure, Cynthia felt significantly better. “It’s been amazing. I feel like I got my life back,” she said, grateful for the care she received from Dr. Deveza and her medical team at Baylor St. Luke’s. “I've been working my way back - going on relatively long walks, attending family functions and hanging out with my friends again.”

Her husband shares her happiness. “Watching Cynthia play with our dogs again, being more present with family and getting back to being active has been incredible,” Austin said. “I didn’t realize how much of a ‘180’ something like this could make.”

To learn more about back pain treatment options, visit Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center.