Hi Jetty,
I hope you are feeling OK. Did you have your surgery yet? Not sure if I posted in the right place. I'm looking to find out who your si joint surgeon is. Please let me know.

Thanks!

Terra

I had an SI joint Fusion when I was young. I was 19 years old. It has been 14 years now. It was the BEST thing I have ever done. I was in major pain, I couldn't walk, and my Dad had to carry me around. Even sitting in a wheelchair hurt like heck, it was just constant pain. I developed arthritis in my SI joint so my first surgery was just to go in and clean it up. Get all the arthritic bone out. That didn't work at all- I was still in pain for about a year.

Then SI fusion surgery was brought up. At this time there wasn't a lot of info out there cause this was 14 years ago. I thought to myself I am 20 do I want to be in pain for the rest of my life like this? I went ahead with the surgery because I had nothing to lose. If it didn't work ok I would be in pain , but I still am in pain. I couldn't work or go to college. I had to drop out of my first year of college because walking hurt to much.

I am so glad I had the surgery. I am not in pain anymore- only when the weather gets cold. I still have my screws and plates in. I was supposed to get them removed but my surgeon said if you not in pain and they haven't cracked yet don't fix what's not broken. So we decided that once it does crack then I will have another surgery till then I am walking, running, hiking, etc. all with a fused SI joint.

I recommend SI fusion to anyone BUT you have to make sure you get a darn good surgeon who know's what they are doing. Go to a medical university trauma level one hospital. I had mine done at UCLA-- University of Calif. Los Angeles. The only thing that I had complications on was my pregnancy. Because of the weight I had gained I had to be on bed rest for the last couple of months to avoid putting weight on my SI joint.

Hi Sally. I know it's far but have you looked into UCLA? They can go in and clean the SI joint and then another doctor will go ahead and fuse the joint. I had my SI joint cleaned out (that didn't work) and then fused. If it's really unbearable like my pain was to the point that I couldn't walk at all, you might want to check UCLA out. My surgeon has done many SI joint fusions. 14 years ago he had done quite a lot. Forgot the number he told me but I am sure he has done many more since my time.

How are you all doing? I am going through this sactroiliac problem now and am currently in PT. I just started last week and am hoping that will help. I know our problems may be different but I am wondering what helped you the most? Is there anything I definitely should not do? Any help is appreciated.
Thank you,
Linmarie

Hi Yslo,

thanks for the info. I was wondering if you can give me the doctors name at UCLA. I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Linmarie

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HI, Brenda, I'm new at this so don't know if I'm doing it rightl

I have something called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and have had 14 spine surgeries--the last in 2000 when they removed 5 previous fusions, did laminectomies of those spaces plus lams of 2 thoracic vertebrae, then put in 14 cadaver bone blocks and 14 pedicle screws and attached them to two titainum rods. It wasn't a perfect surgery (about 12 hours) but cut my pain by 1/2 or more and I did pretty well till 3 years ago when my hip joint became bad (also had knee repaired---ACL tear and removal of Bakers cyst). The hip bursa were injected on an almost routine basis and finally this surgeon felt she could remove and had done it with great results so ordered a scan--but I mentioned more back pain so a scan ordered for that. It didn't look right to the radiologist and so she wouldn't do hip surgery till the back isssue was solved. YOu can imagine the complications I present doctors,had many tests, saw orthos, neuros--finally went back to the man who did the BIG surgery and he diagnosed problem as a SI joint problem. HE doesn't do injections but has a colleague who does, but my internist husband felt we should go back to our area===600 mi E--and see if we can find a suurgeon who works on SI joints, which we did within 25 mi from us. He did more tests and lo and behold found the lowest lumbar space was a non-union AND I have TWO bad SI joints! Now, this sugeon will fuse both joints, along with the L4 vertebrae. I am relieved to hear that someone has had good results. How long has it been since your surgery and how was your recovery period? Having had 14 spine surgeries, I would think that I would tolerate the surgery okay. One never knows.... Do you notice more stiffness or not? At this pt I stiffen up and feel that I am losing my balance,which I hope will get better when the pain lessens---I hope (I have a lot of stinging pain) ANything you can tell me to help me understand this would be very much appreciated! I' hope to hear from you!

Hi. I'm new to this forum. Did you end up having surgery with Dr. Weiss? I have an appointment scheduled with him in early Feb. Hoping someone can tell me a bit about their experience with him. I've had chronic low back pain for past nine years and was recently told I have significant degeneration of SI join and will need SI fusion for pain relief. I've tried PT (x3) , injections, prolotherapy, chiropractic, accupuncture, massage. You name it, I've done it! Anyway, was thrilled to find this forum.

This is my first post so, pardon my inexperience. I've been having SI joint pain since I fell on the ice two years ago. I've had trigger point injections in my right hip, pt, two sij injections. The injections each relieved the pain for a day and then it's back to the burning and deep aching of the rear. My neurologist thinks its time to consider surgery. I can't believe this has so taken over my life. Those of you who've been through the surgery, what am I in for? Would you do it again? I can't believe the symptoms that are caused by this, but I'm definitely ready for some relief.

Hi. I am sorry to hear about your pain. I also have been experiencing SI joint pain for about 4 years. I live in Ohio and have traveled all over Ohio to physicians and even to Chicago. All of my diagnoses were degenerative disc disease based on MRI results, but every doctor said the pain I was having was not indicative of DDD and that I was too young for surgery.

Finally, a local physiatrist sent me to Toledo Hospital to see Dr. Ebraheim. He is awesome. I have worked with him for about a year and 3 months. He did not jump into surgery given my age. He worked with me and his pain management colleagues using various pain management techniques. I got relief for about 3 months at a time. These were all good diagnostic tools and it was great to get a little relief. Finally, he said I was ready for an SI joint screw fixation.

I just had the surgery last week. I am still a little sore, but I am up and weight bearing. I know it will take awhile to know if this has been a success, but I am confident and hopeful. I want my life back too. I go back to see him on Jan. 3rd to get my physical therapy, recovery, and activity protocol. I am so hoping that I will be able to return to my morning walks.

His name is Dr. Ebraheim and he is with the University of Toledo Medical Center.

Good Luck!

I am not new here, but I haven't been around in awhile...

I have bilateral SI degeneration( from a fusion surgery, I think). I had a pretty successful RF procedure on the left, and am waiting on the right. I had about 80% pain relief, so I'd say it went very well! I also have Thoracic spine issues and used it up there, and it was great for almost a year! This, however is not going to last as long, I can already tell.
I was quite shocked at how bad the pain was after the procedure. It stopped after a week, though, and has been gone since...about 3 months.
Good Luck to you, and this is a great place to get ideas!