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Anyone navigating SI joint fusion complications?

Posted by al21 @al21, Sep 15, 2024

42 yr old, active female. Suffered a traumatic weight lifting injury about 2 yrs ago and have been dealing with chronic lower back and SI joint pain ever since. Recently underwent Ifuse SI joint fusion which has provided about 70% relief from SI joint pain, but am now dealing with compensation in my hips which have mild OA but have really flared up as my activity levels increased after the fusion 4 months ago. I also have some disc bulging / stenosis in the lumbar spine which according to MRI is mildly affecting the left side L5 nerve but I’m aware of any symptoms (yet). Trying to navigate options of which specialist can help get to the root cause of my complications and make sure I’m not setting myself up for more /worse injuries down the road. I’m not attempting to get back into high impact cross fit but do want to be able to stay fit & active. Thanks for any help!

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cheryla22 | @cheryla22 | Jun 10 2:42pm
In reply to @mollylyn "Hi, first I'm so sorry you're going thru this pain. In 2023, I had L5 S1..." + (show)
@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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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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mollylyn | @mollylyn | Jun 10 6:11pm
In reply to @cheryla22 "I’m 61 and developed severe SI pain in one day five years ago. My life changed..." + (show)
@cheryla22

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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I am so sorry you are in pain after fusion surgery. That is my fear, a revision will make things worse. My neurosurgeon said he doesn't want me to have a revision this year, will do an xray next year and go from there. I don't want a revision. I'm trying everything other than a revision. I have pain amd I'm walking, I keep pushing myself.
I wish you the very best and hope you start to feel better very soon.

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