Marilyn Blondeau led an active life until 1997 when an accident on an icy highway changed everything. Marilyn hit a patch of black ice and rolled her van, leaving her suspended, upside down, inside the vehicle.

No bones were broken, but the accident left her with pain throughout her upper body. It was pain she didn’t have time for. Besides working, Marilyn was a busy mother with three school- aged children. Not long after her accident, she also began caring for her husband who was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

“I just put up with the pain and got on with life,” she says.

Over the next 15 years, she got some relief from physiotherapy, massage therapy and acupuncture. However, the chronic back and hip pain persisted, making simple everyday tasks such as bending, reaching and climbing stairs difficult.

When she could no longer tolerate the pain, a specialist recommended facet rhizotomy, a minimally invasive technique used at Regina General Hospital’s interventional radiology suite (IR Suite).

This year, the IR Suite, along with other diagnostic imaging technology, is the focus of Hospitals of Regina Foundation’s $3.6 million fundraising campaign in support of therapeutic and diagnostic imaging.

Interventional radiology is used as an alternative to surgery for many conditions. It can mean shorter hospital stays or eliminate the need for hospitalization altogether. In 2017, more than 5,000 procedures were performed in the IR Suite at Regina General Hospital.

Facet rhizotomy provides pain relief by injecting a small amount of local anesthetic to anesthetize the facet joints in the spine. A radiologist uses a fluoroscopic X-ray to guide an insulated electrode with an exposed tip into the spinal area. A current is passed through the electrode, which interrupts the transmission of pain signals.

Thanks to this non-invasive procedure, Marilyn is now enjoying retirement, free from pain. She even started curling again - something she thought she would never do again.

Diagnostic imaging plays a vital role in the detection and treatment of many diseases and illnesses. The Foundation’s investment in therapeutic and diagnostic imaging will mean our medical teams will help more patients receive a quicker diagnosis and enhanced treatment, right here at home.

“The wide range of diseases and organs that can be treated using interventional radiology is constantly evolving, so we expect the number of patients who need local access to these much-needed procedures will continue to increase,” says Dino Sophocleous, president and CEO, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “Support from our community helps ensure patients are receiving the best care and living better lives.”