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How do you manage sacroiliac (SI) joint pain?
I'm a female 60 years old. I have a titanium H cage from L-5-L2. I have post lamenectomy syndrome, AKA Failed Back Syndrome, AKA Arachnoditis. They've punctured my dura space more than 6 times requiring a "blood patch" 4 times. I have a spinal cord stimulator and a implanted intrathecal morphine pain pump. They had to use donor bone for my fusion due to my arthritic hips. So I also got a bone growth stimulator thrown in for good measure.
I lived in Texas for a while and the pain management doctor insisted on doing epidural steroid injections. I had no idea how bad they were for you. I was given 13 ESI's in 12 weeks.
I got so sick one day vomiting and passed out.
Rushed to ER with a Addisions crisis. I didnt even know I had Addison's disease. After all the tests were done yes I was told my adrenal glands were not functioning and i almost died in the hospital. Now i have to take 15 mg of Hydrocortisone (more steroids) in divided doses the rest of my life because of those steroid injections. Malpractice, oh you bet. In Texas unless you die and your case is worth multi millions you cant get anyone to touch your case.
I turned this doctor into the medical board, they called me 1 time, I never heard another word.
I'm in Missouri now. My current pain management doctor is weaning me off my pump by 15% per week. No withdrawal symptoms so good so far.
I've had radiofrequency ablation on my SI joints, no good. I'm taking Ultram 50mg 3 times a day now. How do y'all manage your SI joint pain?
Thank you for your time and support.
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My husband could not have surgery for his SI joints. He had ablation and it worked well! Good luck.
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1 Reaction@kricket08016 Welcome to Connect. Someone I know had the SI joints fused and has been in pain ever since. My physical therapist didn’t think it was a good thing to do. My pelvis does shift because of some laxity in my SI joints, and I do some stretching and maneuvers to get it realigned. Myofascial release also helps because it is the fascia tightness that pulls it out of shape. Have you heard of MFR therapy before? We have a discussion on it under the Neuropathy Group.
Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
@jrbuff
Me too. What have you heard about success
@jenniferhunter what test is done to know if si joints are a problem?
@rockpir I think a physical therapist or orthopedist can just manipulate the leg and SI joint (sacro- iliac) and determine if the pelvis stays in proper alignment or not. There can be leg pain or back pain symptoms associated with misalignment. Imaging may show it too if it stays misaligned. In my case, I get both back and leg pain if one side of my pelvis comes forward because of SI joint laxity. It's not a huge problem, and I can feel some popping, and weakness in lifting a leg on that side if the alignment is off, and when the muscles are stretched out and tension is released, it allows better alignment and relieves the pain and most of the weakness on that side. I have been working on this with a physical therapist.
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1 Reaction@jenniferhunter Thank you,I know a pt and I will talk to him about that!
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