Molly Phillips, a 66-year-old retired orthopedic and neurological floor nurse, lived an active lifestyle. With demanding job duties that required her to stand and walk multiple miles per shift, and hobbies like gardening and playing with her five grandchildren, lower back pain was the last thing on her mind.
But over time, the Duluth resident began to experience a dull, persistent ache in her upper right buttock, which she coped with for two years before seeking help.
“At first I attributed the pain to overuse of my muscles and being on my feet all day,” Molly recalled, “so I would rest and stretch, but nothing was working. The pain became worse, and I was unable to garden, sit and read or pick up my grandkids. By that point, I was ready to get my life back and get back to the things I loved to do.”
Molly first visited a practice that gave her a steroid shot at the bottom of her spine, but unfortunately, the pain continued.
“I didn’t feel like anyone was listening to me or seeking to identify the cause of my pain,” Molly said. “I felt like I was just another patient, ushered in and out with a ‘quick fix solution’.”
Because the first injection was ineffective, Molly was prescribed opioids, but they, too, were unsuccessful in treating her pain. Her doctor ordered an MRI, which was inconclusive, and prescribed another steroid injection. Molly wasn’t surprised when the injection didn’t help her pain subside.
Frustrated that none of her treatments had worked, Molly felt her options had been exhausted. That’s when she performed a Google search and found Dr. Matthew Hazzard, an experienced, board-certified neurosurgeon with Advanced Neurosurgery Associates.
“Initially, I was concerned about seeing a neurosurgeon, but from the moment I met Dr. Hazzard, I felt at peace,” Molly remarked. “He was incredibly nice and considerate and didn’t make me feel hurried when I explained my pain issues. I finally felt like someone was listening.”
After an initial discussion and a thorough examination, Molly was diagnosed with cluneal neuralgia, or inflammation of the cluneal nerves — a condition causing pain in the lower back, buttocks, and upper thighs due to irritation or compression of cluneal nerves. Molly’s pain was particularly pinpointed to her iliac crest.
“I felt like someone had hold of my hips and was pushing them down as hard as they could,” Molly explained. “The radiating pain, tenderness and stiffness I felt was unbearable.”
Dr. Hazzard ordered an injection, but this time it was placed differently and heavily concentrated on her exact pain point.
“While I was initially hesitant for a third injection,” Molly remembered, “I trusted Dr. Hazzard and his diagnosis.”
Molly received the injection and has been happily pain-free since then.
“I cannot tell you the difference one little injection, in the right place, has made in my life,” she said. “I have been pain-free for over a year and a half and I owe it all to Dr. Hazzard.”
Molly is proud of how far she’s come since her injection and meeting with Dr. Hazzard. While she’s had follow-up appointments, her pain has subsided and she couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. She’s gotten back to gardening, reading, enjoying time with her family, and has even lost weight as she’s been able to walk with her friends in the park.
“I finally feel like I got my life back,” Molly said. “In the end, my journey has been one of self-advocacy. It’s important to ask the right questions and find a doctor who will best serve your needs and take the time to listen to your concerns.”
Now that Molly is on the other side of her pain, she sees the value in seeking out a neurosurgeon’s opinion.
“While I was skeptical at first to speak with Dr. Hazzard, I know I made the right choice,” she recalled. “Surgery isn’t always the first option when it comes to back pain. I am thankful Dr. Hazzard reassured me and my fears and found a treatment path that worked for me, my lifestyle and well-being.”
Learn more about neurosurgical care at Northside Hospital.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
