do any of you know of a picture of the possible pain radiation of the SI joint?

I've had some pain recently and am not sure if it is si or piriformis related...

Great topic, Thanks!

Jen, I don't know if this will help, yet there are some images on these pages:

http://www.orthogate.org/patient-edu...sfunction.html (which GJZH shared in her thread-opening post )

and... http://www.hughston.com/hha/a.sacjnt.htm


GJZH, I may have read about the screw stabilization in the past; I read so much that it something become fuzzy . Sacroliliac fusion (by surgery) does seem rather scary; I'd rather take the natural route, since it's gonna happen anyway, but... to get the alignment, surgery may be the better option.

Let us know how your injection goes, and whether it seems to help you.

Thanks, Bobbi;

I've been having arthritis-type pain that is getting pretty bad and I had a fusion l4 thru S1. I'm not sure if it is the joint or the fusion. If it is the joint, then some more attention to my arthritis is in order. I was just trying to figure out a way of isolating the pain without a whole bunch of tests...it's not like we haven't been through enough already!

Jen, I'll do some more looking around for images that might display the most probable areas where referred/radiating pain from the SI Joints could happen. It'll likely take me a couple of days to more searching .

I might also have some images in materials my doctors had given me. If so, I'll scan those and post 'em.

For me, I know the pain is a pain in the ... y'know what.

I think that my bone and CT scans were the most telling - for surgeons - along with the films taken during procedures.

Hello to all on this thread. Perhaps I can help by sharing my experience, although I hardly know where to begin. I haven't been closely following forums like this one since I had bilateral SI-joint fusion in August of 2004. In my case, this surgery gave me my life back! I also have had a prior bi-level lumbar posterior fusion of L4-L5 and L5-S1 in 1996, a lumbar discectomyin 1995, a spinal cord stimulator, an intrathecal morphine pump implanted in 2000, and various and sundry injections. So I have a basis to compare the trauma from my SI-joint surgery. In my case, this surgery was much less painful and difficult than my spinal fusion.

I severely injured my pelvis in an auto accident at age 19, recovered seemingly completely, then developed pain in a sciatic pattern at age 45. Was misdiagnosed with degenerative disc disease, had the above-mentioned spinal surgeries which only made my pain worse. I continued to suffer increased pain which baffled the many orthopedic and neurosurgeons who examined me over an eight-year period post-lumbar fusion surgery. They were baffled because noone thought to consider the possibility that my pain originated from my sacroiliac joints! My pain increased to the point that I had to retire from my career as a marine scientist, permanently disabled, from the chronic pain. By 2004, at age 46, I could no longer stand or sit except for very brief periods due to the severity of the pain radiating from my lumbar area to my feet. Even lieing on my back was painful due to the pressure of my body weight on my Si joints. My wonderful pain specialist at UC-San Francisco ordered a CT scan, then, which suggested SI joint degeneration. My pain doctor told me that if the degeneration was visible on a CT scan then it was really bad. She gave me diagnostic lidocaine nerve blocks into each SI joint, the gold standard test for diagnosing Si joint degeneration, and I was pain free for 6-8 hrs until the lidocaine wore off! Finally, an accurate diagnosis! I was so excited to have a rational explanation for the baffling, debilitating pain I suffered from.

I researched SI-joint fusion in medical journals and located a superb surgeon in Loveland, Colorado who is very accomplished and experienced at this form of surgery. He is fantastic. His name is Dr. Jeffrey Donner. He performed a bilateral fusion, with screws, on both of my severely degenerated Si joints, then prescribed a conservative regimen of NO weight bearing on the joints for a minimum of three months. This allows the joints to fuse properly. The screws ultimately were painful for me and 13 months after fusion surgery, I had the screws removed. This did lessen the pain. I repeat, this surgery gave me my life back. I can now walk long distances, sit for up to an hour without pain, and live a somewhat active, low-impact lifestyle. I am still in pain but at a much lower level.

I have no assocaition with Dr. Donner other than as a surgical patient. And I present my long story to offer hope to those of you who suffer with this affliction and feel hopeless at times.

Thank YOU for relating your background and sharing what you've felt to reach where you are now, Franck . I'm sorry you've been through so much pain and also how it affected your life.

What you've relayed also highlights the fact that there just are not enough Dr. Donner types around; I wish he was in California.

By what your doc told you about the CT and SI Joints ... that's the part that grabbed me. Since the probs. o'mine display within the films, I know that's not good, only... as, you also mentioned: It also takes away the potential for "guessing" and faulty dx's.

I hope that you'll continue posting, though I am not pleased that you've been through so much pain.



Jen, I found this site yesterday... and will continue looking for images:

http://www.ic-network.com/iclifestyles/april02.html

I hope that your move doesn't increase the progression, Curious, and that you find relief from pain you feel... maybe some things that help.

In looking for info. about SI Joints for Jen, I also read some about spondylolisthesis; it sounds rather painful.

Thank you for the kind words, Bobbi. You are right about the seeming lack of surgeons in California with SI joint experience. I took Amtrak to Denver from Oakland, Calif. for my surgery (I was unable to tolerate sitting for the flight) after failing to find an experienced surgeon in the San Francisco area.

I was told by one surgeon that many doctors were taught in med school that the SI joints are not a significant potential cause for lumbar/pelvic pain, and it seems that it's only been research in the past 15 yrs or so that has proven otherwise. Also many surgeons are not comfortable in performing a nonroutine procedure like Si-joint fusion. So fusion candidates dshould definitely try to locate an experienced specialist.

I've also been told by phys. therapists and chronic pain doctors that SI-joint dysfunction is often overlooked or mistaken as lumbar spine issues. Fortunately, the diagnostic nerve block into the SI joint, under guided fluoroscopy), is a great means to confirm SI joint dysfunction.

I sympathize with all of our fellow sufferers of this awful condition.
Franck

Now I know where to go for the fusion... but heck of a way to have to find out - based on the pain you've suffered .

It is quite unfortunate that it's been only relatively recent (15 or so years) that doctors have taken a closer look at what role SI Joints may have in some people's conditions, particularly considering that the SI Joints are often where some diseases manifest first - such as with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

If you or anyone else takes Amtrak for future trips, I don't know if you might already know this (and it's very possible that you and others do): Amtrak offers a discount on tickets for the disabled and also bumps the sleeping quarter size (not at an added cost for the larger space) automatically as long as it knows in advance .

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum and am very interested in hearing about SI joint fusion. My Dr. just told me I need to have it done. Bilateral. Two yrs. ago I had Bilateral Sacroiliac joint stabilization. Did okay for about a yr. then started to experience the same symptoms as before the screws (4 titanium) were put in. Several Dr's, 2 different physical therapy groups and a chiropractor later, I think I have finally found the Dr that can help me. He has done 2 ct guided injections on me to determine if it is still my SI joint and it is, from all indications. Apparently the screws were not put in the right location to start with and that is why I am still having pain. I need to know what to expect from this surgery! I am a 57 yr old female. Have always been very active, UNTIL THIS! Horseback riding, golf, 4 grandchildren, etc. I want to have my life back if possible. Can anyone give me some idea what to expect?
SharonK