I'm scheduled to have SI JOINT fusion next Wednesday. I'm terrified.
Has anyone had a positive experience? I've been through it all, PT, shots, tens, the whole 9. My back burns so badly, it's hard for me to even clean up the kitchen at night. Vacuuming is torture.
Am I right to be afraid?
Should I not do it?
I'm also supposed to have the other side done in 4 months. The neurosurgeon says I will lose 2° of rotation.
My family thinks I'm crazy for even considering this surgery.
Is there anything special I should know? Ie, sleeping, sitting, bathing, etc.
I know exactly what your having.
The problem is your SI joint has lost its ability and you are having bone on bone. What SI joint fusion it stables the joint. I know what you have gone through. I had no where go to get it done. 😩 Mayo Rochter help me out. They are the best. I couldn't find anyone to help. If you trust your doctor GO FOR IT. Good Luck
This is congenital anomaly which I also have. The lover back has a transitional vertebra that does not fuse at birth. It would in theory be a part of the pelvis, but as it is separated (partially or completely on both sides) it is considered a spine issue - not an orthopedic one. It is a bone-on-bone issue. It is not a true vertebra.
Decisions, decisions, decisions: To fuse or not to fuse.
It's great that the neurologist didn't find an organic problem - that means you should be able to get this under control.
One thing to remember - do EVERYTHING in moderation - sit a little, move a little, exercise a little, walk a little - and gradually add as your body tolerates. Building strength and endurance will take time.
Since you asked about activity, I will tell you that, when I was in chronic intense pain last year from arthritis, the pain doc's first recommendation was PT. The last thing my poor body wanted to do was to move! But she was exactly correct, and I saw a PT for many weeks. I now have a ready list of exercises and stretches I do daily, and some I can add when specific aches and pains crop up. I also walk or do physical labor every day. Maybe you can get a referral for PT from the neurologist or your primary provider to break the cycle of pain.
Finally, there a a couple of home remedies that can sometimes help with acute pain -
Move - if you have been sitting, get up and walk, bend, twist for at least 5 minutes - even when it hurts.
Lie on your back, knees bent, ice pack on most painful area, for 20-30 minutes. Repeat as needed. Larger gel packs or a two pound bag of frozen peas or corn work - refreeze & reuse.
Remember, it took 3 years to get to this level of pain, so it will take some time and effort to reduce. Do everything in moderation - when you are sitting, get up and move a few minutes every hour or even half hour. When you are walking, take a break every few minutes - even leaning against a wall or tree can help.
Yikes, that's an old reply that you found! Yes, motion is indeed the answer, and not only for arthritis. My Mom was always asked why she kept moving, in spite of numerous health issues, and she said "If I sit down, everything seizes up." Right now, we have a friend having in-patient chemo, and he is a familiar site, walking the halls. His goal is a half-mile a day!
Have you been evaluated for the new pain and any possible cause for it? Something that begins 3 years after a surgery, even if in the same area of the body, should be investigated with your provider.
I had pain such as your are describing, 6 years after hip replacement surgery, and it turned out the root cause was a treatable case of bursitis.
Sue
I had only decompression at l34 and only 4 months after the surgery I started having my symptoms back again. The symptoms I have are my legs twitch and throb. No one ever investigated the possibility of bursitis in my foramenal area.
I know exactly what your having.
The problem is your SI joint has lost its ability and you are having bone on bone. What SI joint fusion it stables the joint. I know what you have gone through. I had no where go to get it done. 😩 Mayo Rochter help me out. They are the best. I couldn't find anyone to help. If you trust your doctor GO FOR IT. Good Luck
I was told I would probably need fusion I have bone on bone problem in s 1 l5 but then the surgeon told me that the problem with fusion is that the areas above and below the fuse part can then cause problems. Has anyone had that happen? How long did it take you to recover from fusion surgery?
Yikes, that's an old reply that you found! Yes, motion is indeed the answer, and not only for arthritis. My Mom was always asked why she kept moving, in spite of numerous health issues, and she said "If I sit down, everything seizes up." Right now, we have a friend having in-patient chemo, and he is a familiar site, walking the halls. His goal is a half-mile a day!
My advice after having a myriad of sacral joint issues over three decades with arthritis and particular tightness is to make sure you’ve had MFR (deep tissue myofascial release) before you consider any surgery! I have a wonderful surgeon and a wonderful pain management doctor but honestly everybody missed the problem! I was considering implants and surgeries and had excruciating pain and when I visited the MFR therapist who worked on releasing the muscles running over the sacral joints I was completely relieved of that pain! It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s obvious after your first treatment that the pain is from the glued fascia of the muscle muscles that run over the sacral joint. That is why the person above is not relieved of their pain after surgery that is why people need to go slow and explore methods that might not be apparent at first glance. My orthopedic surgeons job is to look at my bones, and my bones are an arthritic and congenital mess. So of course he can do something to fix that. But that wasn’t where the pain was coming from and that’s the crucial missing link. There is a good section here on MFR. please look it up and read that. I was in MFR treatment for my cervical spine and it was ironic that the therapist asked where else we should be working and I said my sacral joints. I had no idea absolutely no idea that it was the muscular attention and connective tissue issues that were causing the pain now I’m all better after 30 years of pain in my sacral joints.
I was told I would probably need fusion I have bone on bone problem in s 1 l5 but then the surgeon told me that the problem with fusion is that the areas above and below the fuse part can then cause problems. Has anyone had that happen? How long did it take you to recover from fusion surgery?
After seeing numerous doctors regarding my sacrum and years of physical therapy/releases/exercising/injections I remain in pain. One doctor told me whatever I decided to do don't get a fusion. He went on to say his mother had one and she was in misery for he rest of her life. So I just keep plugging along waiting for miracle.
Yes, they keep recommending fusion and I have said No, but like you said, the pain continues and affects my quality of life. Have you heard of a place called the thebackinstituteneurosurgery ?
I'll have to post it to the site to ask others.
Even Mayo suggests fusions I think. I don't understand.
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I know exactly what your having.
The problem is your SI joint has lost its ability and you are having bone on bone. What SI joint fusion it stables the joint. I know what you have gone through. I had no where go to get it done. 😩 Mayo Rochter help me out. They are the best. I couldn't find anyone to help. If you trust your doctor GO FOR IT. Good Luck
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThis is congenital anomaly which I also have. The lover back has a transitional vertebra that does not fuse at birth. It would in theory be a part of the pelvis, but as it is separated (partially or completely on both sides) it is considered a spine issue - not an orthopedic one. It is a bone-on-bone issue. It is not a true vertebra.
Decisions, decisions, decisions: To fuse or not to fuse.
Motion is lotion for arthritis.
Yikes, that's an old reply that you found! Yes, motion is indeed the answer, and not only for arthritis. My Mom was always asked why she kept moving, in spite of numerous health issues, and she said "If I sit down, everything seizes up." Right now, we have a friend having in-patient chemo, and he is a familiar site, walking the halls. His goal is a half-mile a day!
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI had only decompression at l34 and only 4 months after the surgery I started having my symptoms back again. The symptoms I have are my legs twitch and throb. No one ever investigated the possibility of bursitis in my foramenal area.
I was told I would probably need fusion I have bone on bone problem in s 1 l5 but then the surgeon told me that the problem with fusion is that the areas above and below the fuse part can then cause problems. Has anyone had that happen? How long did it take you to recover from fusion surgery?
I didn't even notice the date but it just popped up in my inbox so I thought it was current??? I'll pay attention to the dates now, thank you.
My advice after having a myriad of sacral joint issues over three decades with arthritis and particular tightness is to make sure you’ve had MFR (deep tissue myofascial release) before you consider any surgery! I have a wonderful surgeon and a wonderful pain management doctor but honestly everybody missed the problem! I was considering implants and surgeries and had excruciating pain and when I visited the MFR therapist who worked on releasing the muscles running over the sacral joints I was completely relieved of that pain! It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s obvious after your first treatment that the pain is from the glued fascia of the muscle muscles that run over the sacral joint. That is why the person above is not relieved of their pain after surgery that is why people need to go slow and explore methods that might not be apparent at first glance. My orthopedic surgeons job is to look at my bones, and my bones are an arthritic and congenital mess. So of course he can do something to fix that. But that wasn’t where the pain was coming from and that’s the crucial missing link. There is a good section here on MFR. please look it up and read that. I was in MFR treatment for my cervical spine and it was ironic that the therapist asked where else we should be working and I said my sacral joints. I had no idea absolutely no idea that it was the muscular attention and connective tissue issues that were causing the pain now I’m all better after 30 years of pain in my sacral joints.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsAfter seeing numerous doctors regarding my sacrum and years of physical therapy/releases/exercising/injections I remain in pain. One doctor told me whatever I decided to do don't get a fusion. He went on to say his mother had one and she was in misery for he rest of her life. So I just keep plugging along waiting for miracle.
Yes, they keep recommending fusion and I have said No, but like you said, the pain continues and affects my quality of life. Have you heard of a place called the thebackinstituteneurosurgery ?
I'll have to post it to the site to ask others.
Even Mayo suggests fusions I think. I don't understand.
Anne
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