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Anyone navigating SI joint fusion complications?

Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Jun 10 6:11pm | Replies (22)
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@mollylyn

Hi, first I'm so sorry you're going thru this pain. In 2023, I had L5 S1 fusion with 4 pins, screws, and a cage. I did well about 8 months after surgery, but now have severe neuropathy in both feet, hip pain, back pain, and sharp stabbing pain on left side of l5 near cage. Had mri and bone is not fusing. I also have osteoporosis. I started Fosamax, more PT, exercise, walk, elliptical, increased protein, take calcium, d3 k2 and magnesium. I do not want a revision surgery. I'm going to an orthopedic surgeon and see what his opinion is for a bone graft, not total revision. I use heat to help with pain too. And lidocaine. This surgery destroyed my life. You said that you had your rodss removed, did they replace them or no? I wish you well.

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Replies to "Hi, first I'm so sorry you're going thru this pain. In 2023, I had L5 S1..."
kbakermri | @kbakermri | Jun 2 10:08pm

Hello - hipe your Dr can give you some relief. They cut the rods out of 1 level and did not replace them

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cheryla22 | @cheryla22 | Jun 10 2:42pm

I’m 61 and developed severe SI pain in one day five years ago. My life changed overnight. I had ifuse surgery a month later. It didn’t help. My bones also didn’t fuse. My surgeon then recommended a lumbar fusion, which didn’t help. I Then had an SI Joint fusion revision surgery - partial open procedure with packed bone matter to help it fuse. This time my bones fused BUT the pain has been significantly worse ever since. I never really considered that could happen. I thought I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving it a try. But now I’m on 5 x’s the pain meds I was on previously and can only walk for 12 min without a walker. I hate to bear bad news, but just thought it might help you to hear that revision surgery is a very tricky matter. I found out after the fact that my surgeon had only ever done 7 revisions. I wish I asked more questions about the success rate. Anyways, I’m very sorry about your pain. I hope you can find relief.

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