Connect
Anyone navigating SI joint fusion complications?
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!
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.
Connect
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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI 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.
Hello, sorry to read you are having hip issues post SI joint fusion. I am 59 and am just over one year post SI joint fusion on the right and 9 mos on the left. I too am experiencing more and more right hip pain that radiates to or from the SI joint. It seems to get worse as time progresses and it doesn't seem that anyone can offer relief. I have a neuro-stimulator implanted but that is mostly for leg pain and does not help with SI joint or hip pain. I am getting ready to try the stem cell route next in an effort to find pain relief. Please let me know if you have found anything at all that gives you relief. About the only thing that works for me is ice - but you can't ice 24 hours/day.
I am sorry you went through such an ordeal and are still suffering the consequences from your doctor’s incompetence. For the last last year, my Sr and I have been trying to get my insurance to approve and a SI joint fusion but they have denied my request twice. I'm beginning to think that these obstacles that I keep running into you, are not coincidences.
55-year-old male needs a L2 L3 L4 L5 to the pelvic Fusion I have questions about how stiff I will be what movement I will lose and how strong I will be afterwards herniated disc between L2 and L3 pushing severely on the nerve causing pain down the left leg hip and degenerative disc disease