SI Joint Fusion / sacroiliac

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faith1234

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I promised to give an update after my surgery. I went in Mon the 15th early and stayed until thurs am. I have a long incision, about 7 or 8 inches from my crack and up the side of my spine. Longer and higher than I thought.
I have crutches but cannot use them alone. I almost fell a couple times and my husband caught me. The pain is at times overwhelming. Uncomfortable since I have to lay on it. I can't lay on the surgery side and only for a few minutes can I lay on my other side. I can sit in a chair for about ten minutes. I can't get out of bed without my husband helping me, can't even sit up alone. I couldn't do this if I didn't have someone always with me.

My surgeon used a technique that he learned from a Dr. Stark, i think in minneapolis. He used bone dowels and only went in from the back. I was happy, not to have the screws he had previously mentioned. I think I am the fifth person in Omaha to have it done this way. I didn't have to have the bone graft taken off my hip either since he used bone from the "bone bank"

Monday night my pain became out of control. I was at the panicking stage. Found out after a couple hours my morphine leaking out all over the floor and I wasn't getting any. The glass container was cracked.

I can't tell if my original pain is gone because of the pain that I have now is so strong. I think I have less burning in my feet....

the surgery took about 2 hours.
My Dr. is Dr. Fuller, Omaha NE.

I am hoping this will be an end to my ten years of pain.
I will try and update later when I see some improvement
 
Thanks for the update on your fusion. It sounRAB like you've gone through a lot. Wow, how awful to not be getting the pain post-op the night after surgery. I can't imagine the pain you must have been in.

I hope you continue to recover well at home and I'm glad you have your husband there to help and support you.

You're in my thoughts. :angel:

~ Fiona Jo ~ :wave:
 
Update on my si joint fusion.
I thought i would make some notes on my recovery... it is so hard to find anything on this.
For the first three weeks I needed someone around for pretty much everything. Even getting in and out of bed. I needed help to lift my legs to get in and out of bed. Also to bring me ice bags, and help keep track of my meRAB. Even the fourth week it was nice to have help with stuff, with all the restrictions on bending. Finally at the end of the fourth week I started feeling good enough to read or take a ride around the neigrabroadorhood in the car but not much else. Now I am at five weeks and getting stir crazy in the house. I can make it about fifteen minutes in a wheel chair in the store. We went out to dinner last night, but by the time we got home my pain was pretty bad. I sat for an hour and that was too much. It was a painful night, and still is today. I can get aroung the house fine on crutches, get myself dressed, do my hair. I can't shower yet without help and won't until I can walk on my right foot. Of course no driving.
I pretty much rest all day, but get up and down alot.
I started with Hydrocodione 10 (2) then at 2 weeks went to one every four hours. Now I try and only take them at bedtime to help me sleep and again in the morning. During the day I don't unless an ice bag doesn't help. I knew this would be painful, but wow, I was surprised at how painful it was.
The only side effects from surgery are that my r leg and foot turn color when I stand or sit. I think the circulation is bad since I can't use it. It aches and keeps me from being up too long at a time.
I didn't expect to be so "out of commission" as I am, for this long. At first I was told I could go back to work at 6 weeks, but reality is that I can't put my even my toe on the ground until my 6 week check up shows my bones fusing. It will be a while before I am up to working...so be prepared if you choose this surgery.
I still can't tell if it helped and I don't think I will be able too until I heal all the way. Example, last night...did my back hurt from sitting in the booth at the restaurant like it has for years...or was it just because my surgical site hasn't healed enough? Can't wait until I know. If it works it will all be worth it. Oh, and I will never look at taking a nap in the same way. I am so tired of my bed!! :)
 
Just had my six week check up. I get to lose the crutches and try and
walk. I am very happy and very sore...I should have taken it slower.
I am cleared to do whatever I can...and have another check up in 6 more weeks. The doctor said I could go back to work, but physically I think it will take a few weeks more.
 
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