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I was plagued with back pain for seven years after injuring myself carrying a heavy sculpture. Initially no one on Oahu — not my primary care physician, not orthopedic surgeons, nor a neurologist — was able to accurately diagnose the cause of my pain. My options were powerful pain medications, or to live with it.

I would fall asleep exhausted from the discomfort, only to be woken up a few hours later from the same discomfort. Suffering unbearably was unacceptable, so after a year of research I found that a condition called sacroiliitis (SI) had symptoms that matched mine, and that there was a new, minimally invasive procedure that corrected it.

Few surgeons in Hawaii were experienced in this new procedure, so I was ready to book a consultation in California when I learned that one of the premier neurosurgeons of this procedure was relocating to Maui.

I was one of Dr. Taleghani’s first consultations on Maui last April. After reviewing previous diagnostic tests, he performed the procedure in May.

Surgery started at 8:00 am. By 11:30 am, I was having lunch in the cafeteria, already discharged. By 5:00 pm, I was back in Honolulu. Following a brief recovery, I had no lower back pain for the first time in seven years.

At my age, it takes about a year for the SI joint to fully fuse, but the pain has not returned — I sleep well, and I can travel again. On a recent trip to Japan, I was able to climb the long, steep steps of shrines, which I couldn’t previously.

I can’t tell you how thankful I am that I only had to travel as far as Maui to receive Dr. Taleghani’s specialized care. What he did for me has improved my life tremendously!

- Kelvin Kaneoka

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This story and more can be found in the Maui Health Foundation's Annual Report. A digital copy of their Annual Reports are available online on at mauihealth.org/annualreport! The compilation of stories that exude faith, hope, ʻohana, and the recognition of all Maui Health staff as Guardian Angels really make it shine. ⠀