SI joint fusion

Yikes, that's an old reply that you found! Yes, motion is indeed the answer, and not only for arthritis. My Mom was always asked why she kept moving, in spite of numerous health issues, and she said "If I sit down, everything seizes up." Right now, we have a friend having in-patient chemo, and he is a familiar site, walking the halls. His goal is a half-mile a day!

I had only decompression at l34 and only 4 months after the surgery I started having my symptoms back again. The symptoms I have are my legs twitch and throb. No one ever investigated the possibility of bursitis in my foramenal area.

I was told I would probably need fusion I have bone on bone problem in s 1 l5 but then the surgeon told me that the problem with fusion is that the areas above and below the fuse part can then cause problems. Has anyone had that happen? How long did it take you to recover from fusion surgery?

I didn't even notice the date but it just popped up in my inbox so I thought it was current??? I'll pay attention to the dates now, thank you.

My advice after having a myriad of sacral joint issues over three decades with arthritis and particular tightness is to make sure you’ve had MFR (deep tissue myofascial release) before you consider any surgery! I have a wonderful surgeon and a wonderful pain management doctor but honestly everybody missed the problem! I was considering implants and surgeries and had excruciating pain and when I visited the MFR therapist who worked on releasing the muscles running over the sacral joints I was completely relieved of that pain! It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s obvious after your first treatment that the pain is from the glued fascia of the muscle muscles that run over the sacral joint. That is why the person above is not relieved of their pain after surgery that is why people need to go slow and explore methods that might not be apparent at first glance. My orthopedic surgeons job is to look at my bones, and my bones are an arthritic and congenital mess. So of course he can do something to fix that. But that wasn’t where the pain was coming from and that’s the crucial missing link. There is a good section here on MFR. please look it up and read that. I was in MFR treatment for my cervical spine and it was ironic that the therapist asked where else we should be working and I said my sacral joints. I had no idea absolutely no idea that it was the muscular attention and connective tissue issues that were causing the pain now I’m all better after 30 years of pain in my sacral joints.

After seeing numerous doctors regarding my sacrum and years of physical therapy/releases/exercising/injections I remain in pain. One doctor told me whatever I decided to do don't get a fusion. He went on to say his mother had one and she was in misery for he rest of her life. So I just keep plugging along waiting for miracle.

Yes, they keep recommending fusion and I have said No, but like you said, the pain continues and affects my quality of life. Have you heard of a place called the thebackinstituteneurosurgery ?
I'll have to post it to the site to ask others.
Even Mayo suggests fusions I think. I don't understand.

Anne

I had my left si fused.
85% of my pain is gone.
I saw a neurosurgeon.
I recovered rather quickly. 4 weeks I think.
No PT. I'M HAPPY I DID IT. I have to have my right done. Also right total hip replacement.

I just don't like the doc. That did my left side, very bad bedside manner. Lol

Good luck, God bless

Where did you have it done ? The Dr here said it would be a long recovery.

Inova Mount Vernon, Alexandria, VA. I was on a walker for only a little while.
But and this is a big BUT, I had a peritoneal bleed for no apparent reason. They couldn't find where it was coming from so they transfused me. It stopped bleeding on its own, thank the Lord, I spent the next 13 days on bed rest. So maybe 6 weeks.