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rossamwb · 09-14-2011, 09:38 PM

I have had S1-L3 fusion after 2 back surgerys. For about 25 years also I have had sacroiliac pain but after going from doctor to doctor no one could explain some low low back pain and calve muscle pain,I was told it was because of over work? At that time I was a truck driver unloading by finger print 90 thousand lbs product a week.13 years ago a therapist explained to me about the sacroiliac joint

going to a chiropractor and the xrays showed a 5/8 inch diff in my hip bones my family doc told me it in my head.I have had another xray showing a 12 degree s curve from L3-t10 MRI showed DDD in L3-L5 them I had a stand up MRI which showed the same curve in 2008. 1st opt in dec 08 my 2nd opt jan 2011,Now after the 2 back surgerys in a previous post I told how I had gotten pneumonia
with a great deal of coughing,I was walking 6 miles a day 6 weeks post opt,the coughing brought on pain in my hips to the point my walking was getting hard I never got back to 6 miles so after therapy and 2 sets sacroiliac injections my spine doc sent me to a doc that does sacro surgery
so after seeing the sacro doc he started explaining SI-bone fusion and set me a date for sept 29 2011 to do surgery on my left side even though my right side hurts also but my bad side is 89% worst so I will Pray that Dr York knows best.He said if the joint does not move it will not hurt.
wayne b

C5-C6 fusion 2002
L5-S1 fusion 2 rods 4 screws
L3-L5 fusion 2 rods 6 screws

twohands · 09-15-2011, 04:40 PM

While they are becoming more widely available, the science of SI joint fusions is in its infancy compared to lumbar or neck fusions.

No surgery has 100% outcomes where the patients are all pain free after surgery. As such, there is a better chance than not that your pain will be reduced, but your doctor is misleading you if he/she is telling you for sure you'll be pain free. Also, there is a non-fusion rate of about 5% with any SI joint fusion surgery method. I had this happen from an SI joint fusion surgery I had and had to repeat the procedure. I have been told that alignment prior to doing the SI Bone method is crucial; otherwise, even though you may fuse you may continue to be in pain, or may need to have the surgery repeated. There are a lot of doctors who have been trained in SI Bone in the last 3 years - make sure your surgeon has done at least several dozen of these procedures so he doesn't use you to learn on.

There is a group for SIJD on a popular social networking web site where SI joint fusions are discussed quite a bit, but I can't give you the name due to board rules.

With SIJD, diagnosis is much more difficult than with back problems. Most surgeons use several tests (CT scan, MRI, SI joint injection) along with a heavy emphasis on a clinical exam to determine whether your SI joint is a pain generator and if fusing it will help you.

Best wishes!

rossamwb · 09-15-2011, 08:57 PM

During my office visit all the question I asked Dr York I forgot the most important
question about alignment and I understand how important that is upon reading about others who have had this fusion.I am hoping to talk to him again,I have the pre opt next week.

Manta1 · 04-09-2012, 05:27 AM

how did the fusion go?

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