I have had two very successful fusion surgeries and my back has been very healthy for the past three years. I am a very active 59-year-old man.
In fact, I just hiked to down and out of the Grand Canyon a few months ago.
In the past few weeks I have developed severe pain in the sacrum-hip area.
While I have been walking 5 or 6 miles a day these past two years, I was barely able to walk around the house. Last week my GP prescribed a two week dose of prednisone.
While I am now able to walk around the house I feel I definitely have some problems with my SI Joint. The last MRI I had done a few years ago indicated Degineration in the joint.
I would like to hear from some people with experience what I can expect.
What can be done to help the SI problem and will it just continually get worse. If surgery is necessary, does that solve the problem, can a person resume an active lifestyle again? I certainly would appreciate some feedback on this issue.

HI, and welcome to the board. I'm sorry you are having these problems and hope you can get them resolved soon.

Have you seen your surgeon to have the SI joint evaluated? That can be done right there in his office simply with manipulation of the leg and hip. SI surgery is not done very often and most problems can be handled non-surgically. The SI joint is easy to investigate on the web, so you should be able to get lots of information. You never said why you think this is your problem, though; what symptoms are you having?

I hope you found some of this helpful and that you will do some research. I also hope you come back and fill us in on the problems you are having; someone here may recognize your symptoms.

Carol

Usually when it is the joint, it is the ligament. Ask your doc about the SI ligament.