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SI Joint Fusion

Posted by joelhoward1092 @joelhoward1092, Jan 20 9:53am

Has anyone had their SI Joints fused? Either full open or minimally invasive fusion. If so, how did it go?

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mom42ol | @mom42ol | Jan 24 8:44am

I also have had 6 lumbar surgeries and am fused 360 L3=S1. I now have issues withe the SI joint on the right. I had been treating with my ortho thinking it was my piriformis muscle. First Injection gave me 2 months of relief. Pain management doctor says they will do them every 3 months IF I am getting relief. If not they are recommending the "minimally invasive fusion" After 6 surgeries, Nothing is minimally invasive , especially if they are putting hardware in your body. I really am hoping to hear from someone who has had it done as well

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jonc59 | @jonc59 | Jan 24 9:19am
In reply to @joelhoward1092 "Thanks for the response. I am at a point where I need to do some different...." + (show)
@joelhoward1092

Thanks for the response. I am at a point where I need to do some different. Pending the results of a diagnostic injection in my SI Joints, I am considering a minimally invasive fusion. However, just yes I saw a doctor that specializes in pelvic floor and pelvic therapy in general. She thinks she can help me and is concerned that fusion therapy SI joints could/would cause a cascade of problems down the road. She thinks that my pelvic problem is because I am fused at L5-S1, which does make sense. I am very confused about what to do.

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I found a website that has a pile of (what I believe to be) good information, and encouragement.

I'm not expert on SI joint treatment, but I've found the site to be helpful... Perhaps it can be helpful for you, also?
https://sijointsaga.com/
(I'm NOT affiliated with the website)

I'm also reading "The Way Out..." by Alan Gordon, for the 2nd. time - I'm currently pursuing a "Pain Reduction Therapy" (PRT) therapist... what the book touts.

Using the brains neural plasticity... the ability to re-wire the brain, to react differently to nerve pain signals seems to be, at the very least, a way to reintroduce my body to my brain as something other than "the enemy".

- it's a journey, for sure!

REPLY
1 reply
joelhoward1092 | @joelhoward1092 | Jan 24 9:56am
In reply to @jonc59 "I found a website that has a pile of (what I believe to be) good information,..." + (show)
@jonc59

I found a website that has a pile of (what I believe to be) good information, and encouragement.

I'm not expert on SI joint treatment, but I've found the site to be helpful... Perhaps it can be helpful for you, also?
https://sijointsaga.com/
(I'm NOT affiliated with the website)

I'm also reading "The Way Out..." by Alan Gordon, for the 2nd. time - I'm currently pursuing a "Pain Reduction Therapy" (PRT) therapist... what the book touts.

Using the brains neural plasticity... the ability to re-wire the brain, to react differently to nerve pain signals seems to be, at the very least, a way to reintroduce my body to my brain as something other than "the enemy".

- it's a journey, for sure!

Jump to this post

Thanks for all the information. I will check it out.

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deankay | @deankay | Jan 24 11:02am

To have your sacrum fused to the iliac(s) while having fused joints high up the spine, simply transfer any bending to your hips joints. So not only bending but weight of the upper torso or lifting. A gallon of water is 7lbs so it adds up quickly. How fast will hip sockets wear out? Not me as my root cause is muscle tissue was damaged and now scar tissue. A pain pump trial is in my future after 14 years of chasing this. Medical care can move very slow yet SI injection removed bottom 1/3 of pain, but still only lasted 7 weeks. L4-L3-L2 epidural lasted 1 1/2 days. All resulting from 5hrs of heavy lifting & straining low back muscles. I went from feeling fine to waking up to a blistered sunburn pain overnight.

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1 reply
joelhoward1092 | @joelhoward1092 | Jan 24 12:05pm
In reply to @deankay "To have your sacrum fused to the iliac(s) while having fused joints high up the spine,..." + (show)
@deankay

To have your sacrum fused to the iliac(s) while having fused joints high up the spine, simply transfer any bending to your hips joints. So not only bending but weight of the upper torso or lifting. A gallon of water is 7lbs so it adds up quickly. How fast will hip sockets wear out? Not me as my root cause is muscle tissue was damaged and now scar tissue. A pain pump trial is in my future after 14 years of chasing this. Medical care can move very slow yet SI injection removed bottom 1/3 of pain, but still only lasted 7 weeks. L4-L3-L2 epidural lasted 1 1/2 days. All resulting from 5hrs of heavy lifting & straining low back muscles. I went from feeling fine to waking up to a blistered sunburn pain overnight.

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I am very sorry to hear that. It is so frightening that in this day and age of technology that there is nothing better to offer for chronic pain.

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Jan 24 3:39pm
In reply to @joelhoward1092 "Thanks for the information Jennifer. So are you able to stay ahead of your pain with..." + (show)
@joelhoward1092

Thanks for the information Jennifer. So are you able to stay ahead of your pain with stretching and exercises?

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@joelhoward1092 Yes. If I have muscles aching somewhere, that is my clue to look for the cause of the problem. With my neck and shoulders, I will work on tight areas with the myofascial release stretching. I also do this on my lower leg because of an ankle fracture 4 years ago and surgical scar tissue there. Once I work out the tightness, the ankle pain stops. It has to be caused by uneven tension between the opposite sides of my leg due to the injury. I work on tight chest muscles around the collar bone area. By doing all of this, I stay ahead of issues and am relatively pain free.

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