Has anyone ever had SI-Joint Fusion??? Pros & Cons, please!

I struggled with sacroiliatic syndrome for 5 yrs in and out of PT w min relief I am a nurse and worked for 27 yrs as a bedside nurse. I had the IFUSE Implant fusion on the right side and pinning on the left. I did have PT prior to surg with Vicki Sims. I am much worse after the surg I went strictly "by the book" and was faithful to my post op program

I am a little over a year out and am now having to use a walker and a wheel chair to ambulate

I am in constant pain and am on pain killers and muscle relaxers and neuropathic drugs can't even stand to sit longer than 5 -10 min max I am homebound and essentially bedridden at 47 years old

Needless to say I wish I had never had the implant my life and my career as I knew it is over

I require assistance 24 hrs a day for all activity and adl's it is near impossible to find a Surgeon that can remove the implant there is not a good success rate according to my xray my joint fused out of alignment, any suggestions from anyone who has had similar complications are welcome

I wish you the best

I injured my back while deployed in Iraq 2004. I was down for 3 weeks but continued to be in pain through the deployment. Since returning I have been through numerous bouts of physical therapy, traction therapy, and more injections than I can count. I was introduced to crossfit by a SF operator and his brother who owned a local affiliated gym. Proper lifting techniques, proper alignment, and workouts scaled to my ability helped ease the pain, but not totally. Unfortunately, I reinjured myself in 2012 by forgetting the fundamentals of crossfit working around the house. I had my S-1 and L-5 fused in June 2013 and had great success. I was pain free, working out (in moderation) and was beginning to feel as if I was going to return to normal. However, early February 2014 during the ice storms in the mid-west I fell on the ice landing on my tailbone. Now, I am back to living in pain at a 7-8 level 24/7. Pain pills, muscle relaxers, etc... don't touch the pain. I am taking a 600 mg nerve blocker 3 times per day in addition to 10mg Oxy as needed, 30 mg Ambien for sleep, 15 mg Restoril for sleep, and Valium as needed. The doctor stated when I landed there was no where for the energy to disperse due to the S-1 and L-5 fusion. A Myelogram was performed 2 days ago and am awaiting the results. If I thought I could get a 20% relief in pain, I'll jump on it with both feet. Those of you who are suggesting not to get the surgery need to realize everyone is different and thus their pain levels vary as well. Quality of life, as I have come to learn, is paramount especially those of us who have been in chronic pain for an extended period of time. Will it work? Who knows? but I am willing to do whatever it takes to reduce the level of pain I am in. I am a Soldier who was full of pride and at one time felt I just needed to suck it up. However, everyone has their breaking point. I find out next week if I am a candidate. If so, hell yes I am having the surgery.

After reading this I'm scared. I have been in terrible pain since my si fusion 12\16\13. I was told not to finish my degree to be a nurse because I would never be able to do it.

My pain is horrible and I'm 32 yo. They want me to start pain management but I'm skeptical. In the beginning I was told the surgery would fix the pain now it's a different story.

I was reading this post and more interested in the age of the post because of the age. I wanted to check up with you and see how you are doing now? I too am considering the surgery but was told by my back doctors to look into both the SI BONE surgery and the Zyga procedure. I am found that for me, running on these pain killers makes it hard for me to finish long distance, as if I used my energy too soon or something. I would really like to get off the meds and my doctor said that the simmetry procedure uses a screw instead of a rod and that it was better for people who run a lot. Has anyone else heard the same thing? What is your opinion between the SIBONE and this new one by Zyga? They are at http://Zyga.com but look on the SIMMETRY page.

Hey, I read your post. I think the doctors who do the surgery, how many they have done not just the surgery. I have been reading a lot and see nothing but good reviews so I think your an exception. I know thats not great news but it means there should be hope for you right? Did your doctor talk about the Zyga one too? I am trying to decide between the two.

Every once In awhile I get pain in the right SI joint while lying on my back. I clench my glutEs and some bones pop (not sure which but probably sacrum and iliac crest) and the pain instantly goes away

One thing that might help a great deal for this is finding a VERY good massage therapist. If he/she can loosen up the gluteus medius and some of the things that might be pulling on things it might help a great deal

Also PTs and MDs vary greatly in quality so it may be worth it to travel to find the right one

Another thing that might really help are hip flexor/lunge stretches holding for 3mins on each side. This, combined with regularly scheduled deep tissue massages, really helped loosen up my back and probably improve my pelvic tilt. The anatomy in this area is complicated and unfortunately most MDs only see a patient for a 2min appointment and just send you off with Rx for pain and that's it so i learned from my own injury struggles that for runners, really the only useful healthcare professionals in general are massage therapists, PTs who are runners themselves, a few MDs who are runners themselves and possibly yoga sessions because they can really stretch the hips out.

One place in particular that was really helpful for me was the UVA speed lab at Univ. of Virginia in Charlottesville VA. I saw jay Dicharry, Eric MagruM and dr Robert Wilder and that team was extremely helpful along with massage therapist Ernie Kidd.

I injured myself at work at the very begining of the year (2014) I have seen 2 nero surgons and a pain management doc. I have done PT and 4 lower lumbar epidural injections with little to no relief. I had a right SI joint injection and was pain free for 12 days (on that side). I will now be having an injection on the left side to see if I get relief from that also. My doc says if I do get relief he wants to talk surgery. So I am very interested in this and have tons of questions and would like to hear from others. Some of my main questions are

1) Do you get arthritis type pain when the weather changes

2) How bad is the pain after surgery (I cant take pain meds I get eye blinding migraines, I have some vision loss from it)

3) Can you dance/move your hips (and yes Im gonna ask) have sex normally?? yes this question is a little personal but very valid. Im only 39 and this has been a big damper on my sex life. Not comfortable for me at all and trust me when I say hubby and I have tried to find the best way for me.

I really would like the questions answered to help me decide.

Before surgery, please consider going to a chiropractor from Palmer who uses the Activator method and who is familiar with women's issues of pubic symphysis dysfunction. This method realigns the left and right ilium at the 3rd SI Joint and immediately resolved symptoms. Also a pregnancy belt helped stabilize. This advice should be gender neutral and work for either gender. Also look on Atlanta Chiropractors website for good SI resetting exercises. Best one involves putting a yoga block or arm between knees and squeezing. Can do in seated, supine with knees bent, or prone on stomach with block between knees and heels together. SI exercises help.

Questions:

1. Can you please provide some more insight into the "Activator method"? Isn't "the Activator" a device that imparts a known force impact (for the purposes of trying to get repeatable thrust levels when chiropractor-manipulating joints? You said "the method realigns the left and right..." So is "the method" you refer to a specific way of using "the Activator"?

2. What do you mean by "the 3rd SI Joint"?

A quick review of the following describes the joint:

My interest is peaked, as I just replicated, using the described supine position, the 'crack -like' popping that emanates from that area (with minor pain relief) when, while standing, I quickly pull my knee up and inward. (I've gone through several modalities to treat it over the years, trying to manage it, while never seriously considered surgery for it.)

This guy seems to have some decent videos, describing the problem with PT solutions, like the following related to the SI Joint:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEsMuzOpbT4

Ok a few people on here have no idea what they are talking about, I myself am an athlete. I played every sport in HS, and remain active in training, cross fit, and other sports trainging. I had chronic pain for 7-8 years that NO ONE could figure out. Pain management for years and tons of pain pills, I had nerve blocks, injections, resodomes, you name it Ive had it. Was always told I was too young and too active to have any surgery and even at that no one could really tell me exactly where it was coming from and make me believe them. I then went to The Texas Back Insititute. The first time laying on the table to do the anesthetic injection to test what my new dr thought it was, he showed me on the live x ray monitor my SI Joint dysfunction and I hadn't even seen him personally or told him exactly where my pain was and before I could he told me and explained where it was causing stress and pain and he was DEAD ON! The injection only last 3-4 hours but I felt like a million bucks that day. He told me I was not a good candidate for any other fix that the ifuse si joint fusiion for a permenant fix, being 31. non smoker, non drinker, and very active (athlete). not to mention my bone density was realy high (I hae extremely stong bones, good for healing, back for the pain i had when I woke up!). everything else would be a total waste of money. So I had the fusion. whe I woke up I wont lie. the most pain I've ever been in. didn't help the 8 years on pain meds making my tolerance so dang high that no matter how much pain meds they injected in me it didnt really help. But 4 days later. all the pain went way way down to not even noticable. its been weeks and absolutely NO pain at ALL!!! And I am just as active.

I'm having SI fusion tomorrow on left side. I had a fall in 2010 and slowly the joint progressively got worse. I had 2 back surgeries for a L34 slipped disc i did during weight lifting. Simply "not running" doesnt fix the issue in some of us. I cannot sit or walk anymore. I hope it fixes my issue, 4 years of hell.

My SI injections were all positive, but only lasted a day or 2. My surgeon says it doesnt make you Waddle or walk funny, the joint isn't supposed to move more than 2 degrees anyway. It does shock absorb for your back but if you take up another excercize outside running and wear good shoes I am hoping I wont have further back issues.

Read this article and watch the video before doing the surgery

http://chadwaterbury.com/align-your-pelvis-to-reduce-pain/

Just read your post, I also lay in bed most of the day. Maybe three minutes per hour I walk to the bathroom for living room. surgery scheduled this coming week. Really want to know if you had it done and if it helped. Also if you heard from the other person you asked with similar symptoms.

I use a cane and it hurts around the knob at the base of the spine/pelvis.

I know a long time has passed since your post but I see that IFuse implant is available in Quebec City, through Dr. Jean-Francois Roy. I don't know the contact information though. I was searching for info because I have SI Joint dysfunction too. I have lost the ability to do a lot of things because of this condition. But I believe I am in a better situation than most because my pain is not excrutiating now. It is however, my constant companion. I probably would get this surgery if it was more available in Ontario. I wish you the best as I know what kind of pain can be experienced from this condition through prior experience and know that I could end up there again. No one should have to live that way. Only 2 people would even say the words "si joint" and that was my physiotherapist and a doctor at a clinic specializing in diagnostics. Everyone else avoids the words like they don't exist. I don't have respect for these so called "professionals". If they don't believe in it they should step away from the case. Anyway I will persevere. As long as I don't lose my mobility.

Question. Have had 2 spinal fusions at L4-L5-S1. First one failed. Bad surgery, long story. But went in orginally for back and right side hip pains. Just had ct mylogram and SI injection. The doctor could not inject on my right side (side that hurts) . Doc came in gave me pictures and said Left side good right side bad. I have no space for them to get a needle in there. Have had pain for long time. What does it mean if there is no space to even inject me. All they want to do is spinal stimulate or morphine pump. Anyone have a answer.

Question. Have had 2 spinal fusions at L4-L5-S1. First one failed. Bad surgery, long story. But went in orginally for back and right side hip pains. Just had ct mylogram and SI injection. The doctor could not inject on my right side (side that hurts) . Doc came in gave me pictures and said Left side good right side bad. I have no space for them to get a needle in there. Have had pain for long time. What does it mean if there is no space to even inject me. All they want to do is spinal stimulate or morphine pump. Anyone have a answer.

Question. Have had 2 spinal fusions at L4-L5-S1. First one failed. Bad surgery, long story. But went in orginally for back and right side hip pains. Just had ct mylogram and SI injection. The doctor could not inject on my right side (side that hurts) . Doc came in gave me pictures and said Left side good right side bad. I have no space for them to get a needle in there. Have had pain for long time. What does it mean if there is no space to even inject me. All they want to do is spinal stimulate or morphine pump. Anyone have a answer.

Richard m coop wrote:

Question. Have had 2 spinal fusions at L4-L5-S1. First one failed. Bad surgery, long story. But went in orginally for back and right side hip pains. Just had ct mylogram and SI injection. The doctor could not inject on my right side (side that hurts) . Doc came in gave me pictures and said Left side good right side bad. I have no space for them to get a needle in there. Have had pain for long time. What does it mean if there is no space to even inject me. All they want to do is spinal stimulate or morphine pump. Anyone have a answer.

Would you repeat the question?