Post SI Joint Fusion

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machoochoo

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I've had SI joint pain for at least the last two years. I fell during an ice storm. I knew I'd really hurt myself, but I thought I'd heal on my own. Wrong!!! Last summer the pain came back with a vengence and didn't stop.

I was told in Dec. that I'd have to have surgery in Jan. to stabalize the SI joints. Since I was already fused from L2-L5, my NS did an extension by attaching hardware to L4 and inserting screws through my SI joints in two locations. I couldn't believe the symptoms that almost immediately went away. The only pain I'm still having is in my lower right buttock. Since week two after the staples came out I've been walking and doing just about whatever I can tolerate. It's totally remarkable. I don't even see the NS again until May 11. I'm into week 5 today. Does anyone know how long this buttock pain will last? It's been so intense at times that I've had to take my pain meRAB and use an icepack. I find this a little un-nerving, since the first week that I was home I didn't take but about six for the whole week. I'm walking a mile and trying to stay positive. Comments please?
 
Machoochoo, you're doing extraordinarily well; I had L2 thru S1 fused in July 2008 and also had right buttock pain for a while, but gradually it went away. I took pain med for a few weeks post op; Neurontin worked the best for me. My surgeon told me to just keep walking, don't sit for any length of time, and gradually do as much of my normal routine as possible. Now I'm able to do everything I used to do.

It took months for me to be able to sleep on my right side; that pain came immediately, but now I can sleep in any position I want.

Your pain should go away, as mine did. Best wishes to you.
 
Hey....sorry about your fall and the SI joint surgery... I also fell, 6 yrs. ago and lived in pain until I was diagnosed and had SI joint surgery 6/08.....and am still recovering. Your surgery was different than mine. I knew that there were two ways of doing this surgery...my ortho. specialist told me about both of them. Mine was the total destruction of the right SI joint....then cage, rod and screws were inserted...and I was not supposed to walk for 3 mos. or until the pain was gone or no meRAB. needed.... Well, I overdid....for valid reasons....but did not heal....no fusion, so I am now back at 3 more months of sitting....no going out etc. (was told surgery or 3 months. rest)
I cannot believe that you could walk only a few weeks after surgery...I could just make it in and out of bed at that point...on a walker/wheel chair...the type of surgery differerence....
Do you think that maybe you are overdoing??? Could your L5 be getting irritated?? Mine was before surgery...believe me, it was no fun.... Right now, I also have pain/ache...but it is from the bones in the SI joint area, fusing...at one point when I didn't fuse, I felt the bones slipping up and down when I put weight on them...not a nice feeling. Please, please, take it easy, rest, see if you just need to get the weight off of your healing SI joint...give it time...or you will be later on - like me. Take care.

Sage
 
Dear Sage,

It sure sounRAB like yours was difinitely more entailed than my surgery. Although I had both sides fused, I was in surgery five hours and then had to have a ct because my NS wanted to make sure that everything was where it was supposed to be. What a wonderful NS. I've heard he's the best in our area.

I was supposed to have a walker when I came home the first week, but didn't need it. I had no problems walking. And I was supposed to walk 1/2 mile a day. That didn't happen because the weather was so bad, but I did lots of roaming in the house. I'm five weeks out and am walking 1 mile a day. It doesn't hurt at all, but my low back gets a little tired. I have a list that tells me what I'm supposed to be doing week by week. The pain in the buttock is feeling better this week. I find that walking up and down stairs is my nemesis and sitting for any length of time causes me pain afterwarRAB. So, I'm trying to watch those two activities. I still suffer from fatigue that is overwhelming at times. Of course I'm 14 years older than when I had all this instrumentation put in...think that could be the difference?

I'm so sorry to hear about your continuing pain. Do what the docs tell you and what your body tells you! I hope you are much better soon!
 
I am thrilled for you...that you are in so little/no pain. Amazing!! The walker is to keep the pressure off of the area that is fusing...not for help in walking! Stairs don't sound like a good thing to me..the shifting in the fusion area...yikes. Maybe walking up one step at a time...will help you, I have tried that, and it seems to produce less pressure in that area. Hope that things continue to go well for you.

Sage
 
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