I had SI Joint fusion on the 27th of April of this year. There was a lot of pain relief, but there was also different pains. My buttocks, hip ( I had bursitis in my hip many years ago and it felt much like that), and the upper part of the back of my leg hurt especially when I first got up in the morning, walked or stood for more than a few minutes. It has eased with time. I thought it had eased enough to go for a 15-20 minute walk… I was wrong. I had a six week follow up .. I told my doctor that I tried and failed and my doctor said he was proud I wanted to try. He said to just take it easy for a while longer .. don't push it too hard ... do not do a lot of bending, no heavy lifting (no more than a gallon of milk) and try not to twist any at all (the bone graft needs time to complete and it can take up to 6 months.. some people less and some people longer since we are all different).

I had a hard time figuring out a position in which to sleep. I seem to do best on our sofa. The back of the sofa helps me to keep my spine straighter and I use a pillow between my knees to ease pain too. I switch from my side to as flat as I can on my back during the night. I have slept with a pillow between my knees since knee surgery (my kneecap went off to side and I had a release done) in 2006. It takes bit of getting used to a pillow especially in changing positions. I started off with a travel pillow and then went to a thinner regular pillow that keeps my ankles from banging together. It may take a few tries to get the right pillow… don't waste your money on the specialty pillows.

I think I will be good in a few months. A couple of days before the SI joint fusion though my bladder prolapsed a little. I had found it too difficult to do the Kegel exercises with the Si joint pain. I have been doing them since the procedure, but with no success. I go to a urogynecologist on 14 July and see what she can do to help me. Hopefully not more surgery.

What has helped is the instructions I mentioned above from my doctor. He also said to use ice and or heating pad. I use a heating pad in the morning and in the evening now. .. and sometimes during the day if I have been a bit more active. He told me to remember that he made a change to my body and when a change is done it is often felt in other parts of the body. Most of the time the pains in other areas will subside, but if they do not then he needs to know. I will see him again in a few weeks and hopefully my body will have improved even more by then.

I think with time all will be well… then I wait for the other shoe to drop 😁.. what is next??? Aahh an the adventures of life… it would be boring without them, but I need a rest from them,

ZeeGee