RZ was admitted to the ER for back pain and sepsis (a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body’s imbalanced response to an infection). Her pain had begun a few weeks earlier, gradually getting worse until the constant aching and intermittent sharp pain became unbearably severe.

“I couldn’t stand on my own… I couldn’t even walk.”

RZ was living in a shelter with a history of battles with addiction and mental health. She struggled with depression, bipolar disorder, and drug abuse; and unfortunately, her lifestyle had led to her current health circumstances.

An MRI of her middle and lower back showed what they thought might be a synovial cyst. But further investigation using an MRI with contrast showed an enhancing fluid collection in the right posterior epidural space from L4-S1 (lower back). The thick posterior epidural enhancement at those levels was thus determined to be a developing epidural abscess (infection).

RZ needed immediate surgery, but she was homeless with no medical insurance or any means to pay for the necessary procedure. That is where INI came in! We coordinated her medical care so that everything she needed for her surgery would be taken care of.

The next day she underwent a posterior lumbar interlaminar decompression at the L4-L5 levels with facetectomies and aggressive foraminotomies and evacuation of the epidural abscess, including an intraoperative biopsy and culture of the abscess.

“Now I’m able to walk on my own again, so I am very grateful for this procedure; it was amazing. Thank you!”

Two months later at her most recent follow-up visit, we learned that she has been recovering well, has remained clean, and plans to go back to work!