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!

Hi all im new to this so excuse me if i stuff up, im an Aussie and im coming to Utah in Feb 09 i think i have SIJ Dysfunction no one in Australia seems to know much about it, and im looking for a Physical therapist in Salt Lake City who is experienced in SIJ problems any help much appreciated it has been 9 years of hell ive had L4/5 and L5/S1 fused and it hasnt helped at all.
but im not giving up no way.........

Aussie: Hi. Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I have seen three physical therapists in the SLC area and did not find one who helped me.

I would recommend that you try to get an appointment with Vicki Sims at Gainesville Physical Therapy in Gainesville, Georgia. Phone: 770.297.1700.

Vicki is supposed to be the best in the U.S. and also works with a surgeon (Dr. Weiss) in the area who does SI fusion if needed. I will be traveling to see both Vicki and Dr. Weiss in a couple of weeks. I would be happy to fill you in following my appts. with them.

I'm so sorry you had those spinal fusions with no relief! I've read that it's common for people with SI joint degeneration to also have compression at L4/L5/SI. I guess when the SI is really off, it also throws the alignment of the spine off. My last doc here had been treating me for compression of the L4/L5/SI and I was considering surgery. But, a recent x-ray showed significant degeneration of my SI joint.

Best of luck to you. I too have had this problem for a long time and refuse to give up!!

Take care!
Kaydee

I am so happy to hear that you all are talking about SI joint dysfunction. It is true that the general medical community knows little about the disorder. I have had severe problems for 4 months, and have been practically bedridden. I have been through all the tests and traditional and holistic treatments with limited success. I currently go to Body Mechanics PT in Atlanta which Vicki Sims co-founded but have never been treated by her. I have been going to PT for 3 months and have my first appointment with her tomorrow Jan 9th to discuss surgery. I cannot live like this anymore! I would love to know and share any experiences with Vicki and Dr. Weiss regarding surgical treatment.
Thanks
Melissa

Just wondering if you had the surgery with Dr. Weiss. I am a new member and just trying to get some info on this problem. Would love to hear from you. New Member---Sharon Waredell

Melissa,
I am having the same problems, just wondering if you had the surgery or did you continue with PT. Sharon

Did you end up having surgery? I'm having problems with my si and was wondering what is out there for treatment. Thanks, Sharon

Oh boy did I! The first time I was referred to Emory Hospital in Atlanta. (I live in Charleston, SC) I went first for a consultation. I was scheduled for the complete pre-op workup about a month later. By this time I was told that the joint ws flail. I had one leg about 2 inches longer than the other. The did like a SI joint block under fluoroscopy but without pain med and with dye. They needed to see if the pain was exactly duplicated and what the joint looked like with dye running through. You know the joint itself is very difficult to see. Afterwards, I went to a neurologist in the same building for a nerve conduction to see how much nreve damage or nerve root was involved. I also met with Vicki Mims who put the joint back in place. I got up and walked around to see how long it would stay and it didn't. While I was with her, this gorgeous young woman came in to meet me. She was about 20 years younger than me and a former soccer coach. After the surgery she could no longer do that kind of work but her recovery seemed wonderful. She was walking without assistance.
I went into surgery the following morning and , let me tell you that was the most painful experience I had ever had at that point. It was a very difficult recovery. I was under the impression I'd be out of work for 6 weeks, use the walker for around 3 months and then graduate to a cane for about 6 months. It was honestly not a good experience at all and regret it tremendously. Is the pain better. Excuse the expression but HELL NO X 10. First of all I will never have surgery by a surgeon that is 400 miles away. The physical therapists here, despite being given a specific protocol, seemed unnsure and really weren't sure what should be expected in terms of results. Eventually the pain returned with a vengeance, worse than ever before the surgery. There just happened to be an orthopedist who had a special interest in the treatment of this area and had some experience with this problem so he was kind of my last resort. After an MRI,Cat scan, it was determined that the pins were moving which meant the joint fusion had not healed. He was not at all optimistic that things were going to get better but he did offer me a surgery using larger pins and the removalof about 4 square inches of sacrum, ground it up and mixed it with bone cement. Again, this is not for the faint of heart. It was considered salvage surgery because by that time I was hardly able to walk. Well, I am now one year post op from the second surgery. Still walk with a cane but on really bad days I still use the alker. Pain is better controlled but I still use a long acting opiate as well as a short acting. To give hime credit, he told me to expect recovery to last anywhere from 6 months to a year. I am better. Just starting to get back to work. (I only work 6 hours a day). I'm terribly sick this week. I've tried to use less narcotics and have been using too much ibuprofen. I have several ulcers, so I'm week and sick. Oh yeah, my last x-ray one year after surgery showed that the fusion has healed still. This may be something wrong with me though by not being able to gro new bone. I had a cervical fusion about7 years ago and it took twice as long as it should for that to grow.

If I had it all over to do it again, the non-expert orthopedist here in Charleston would have been my first choice over the guy in Atlanta who is supposed to be such an expert and will tell you he has never had a failed fusion. Bells sould have rang then, failure to fuse is not necesary a reflection of the surgeon, it just sometimes happens and I didn't feel I was given a really informed consent and the possible complications or failures.

I'm never going to be the same again but then I couldn't live the way I was before. Way carefully how you are now and then find out the HONEST possible results afterwards. I am not happy with things but now that the pain is allowing me to do more things, I know it was probably the only way I could ever get around and 2 years later(since the first surgery) I am starting to get some of my old self back. I rode on the back of my husbands motorcycle Saturday and I never thought I woul be able to do that. It just takes TONS of patience.