SI Joint Dysfunction: Anyone had their SI joints fused?

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

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.

@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.

Related discussions:
- SI joint fusion https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/si-joint-fusion/
- Anyone navigating SI joint fusion complications? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-navigating-si-joint-fusion-complications/
- Scheduled for a Bilateral SI Joint fusion here in 3 weeks. Thoughts?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/scheduled-for-a-bilateral-si-joint-fusion-here-in-3-weeks-thoughts/

@denisejones00 - I believe my pain is caused by the SI joint, but after diagnostic tests and one steroid injection, I was skeptical. My pain is a dull ache in my right buttock that can stop me from walking around the block (and I'm an athlete; tennis, fly fishing, basketball).
I started doing a regimen of PT daily for the last 13 days and I'm feeling a lot of relief! My docs in my area, so far, have offered to explore my lower lumbar with an MRI after I complained that the SI joint injection was of no help. But I'm going to continue to strengthen and stretch with PT until it doesn't help me! I would say I am 70% better due to PT.
Thanks for your encouragement with the PT!

@bart12mike

Has anyone ever had MLS Laser Therapy for SI pain?

I had SI joint fusion. Don’t do it. Post op it felt like someone was forcing a steel rod up through my knee to my hip. I was in excruciating pain for 6 weeks, only to find out much later that the fusion was unsuccessful via MRI. The fusion did nothing for me. Recommend trying a stretch lab or doing Pilates instead.

Well, I can say from experience that having your SI fused is rather painful, but my situation is very different from yours, as mine happened organically from ankylosing spondylitis lol. Not saying you shouldn't do it, it might be significantly less pain than you had before. But weight-bearing through a fused SI joint can be pretty painful, especially if you already have L-spine fusions. That's partially because I have active inflammation there, though.

In terms of treatment for pain, SI steroid injections are great, having almost no side effects or risks. Very safe and worth trying but not always the most effective. I hope your pain management doctor has put you on gabapentin for the nerve pain too.

I have tight SI joints and dysfunction, and I was looking at surgery after having very successful lumbar surgery and hip replacements. But it turns out that the SI joint pain and dysfunction can be mediated with myofascial release therapy. Find a terrific MFR therapist and give that a whirl for several months. It totally relieved all of my SI pain issues. I have arthritis. I have tight joints, but I think the surgery would’ve been unnecessary and I’m glad my orthopedic surgeon and I patiently address my most significant issues over years. I do think that occasional steroid injections are great exercise is great stretching is great and for me low-dose opioids when the pain gets too much works well. Weather seems to be a trigger and inflammatory reaction is a trigger. So dealing with my triggers is important. Good luck