SI Joints

[Guest guest]

, did Dr. Rand give you iliac bolts? I think they are used to help

stabilize the SI joints.

[ ] SI joints

> Can someone fill me in on the SI joint stuff?/ I have ignored most of

> the talk about this becasue I was so focused on the revision

> surgery..my brain did not have space for any other talk....I saw a few

> posts about it and I am wondering if that will affect me at some

> point..I would appreciate a full explanation on SI or a related web

> site so I can see what my next problem might be......, PA

>

>

>

>

>

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>

[Guest guest]

---

Sharon,

I don't know. I can't remember....I know I have pedicle screws and

rods. I am sure he told me in one of my altered states but I can't

remember...I plan on taking my digital camera and taking a photo of

the xray...will I be able to tell from that?? I also will ask him

when I see him.....,PA

In , " Sharon Green "

<sharon.green18@...> wrote:

>

> , did Dr. Rand give you iliac bolts? I think they are used to

help

> stabilize the SI joints.

>

>

> [ ] SI joints

>

>

> > Can someone fill me in on the SI joint stuff?/ I have ignored

most of

> > the talk about this becasue I was so focused on the revision

> > surgery..my brain did not have space for any other talk....I saw

a few

> > posts about it and I am wondering if that will affect me at some

> > point..I would appreciate a full explanation on SI or a related

web

> > site so I can see what my next problem might be......, PA

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

> >

[Guest guest]

Bonnie, I too am still struggling with SI joint pain and pain in my

hips. (So, I " feel your pain " ...and share your relief that more surgery

is not in your future!)

I don't remember where I read this or heard this but I have in my head

that often the SI joint gets so arthritic...gets down to bone and

bone...and then eventually fuses itself. If this is true, the comment

that was made to you that: " then you really wouldn't be able to move "

is kind of scary.

, thanks for the links, I too read the information with qreat

interest. Have you heard anything about self-fusing? I see Rand on the

21st and I plan on asking him. I will be sure to share.

Ann

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann,

Thanks. I'll be very interested to hearing what Dr. Rand says about SI Joints self-fusing. I didn't think to ask Dr. Bridwell.

Bonnie

[ ] Re: SI joints

Bonnie, I too am still struggling with SI joint pain and pain in my hips. (So, I "feel your pain"...and share your relief that more surgery is not in your future!)I don't remember where I read this or heard this but I have in my head that often the SI joint gets so arthritic...gets down to bone and bone...and then eventually fuses itself. If this is true, the comment that was made to you that: "then you really wouldn't be able to move" is kind of scary. , thanks for the links, I too read the information with qreat interest. Have you heard anything about self-fusing? I see Rand on the 21st and I plan on asking him. I will be sure to share.Ann

[Guest guest]

About 10 years ago, on a " routine " health check with an orthopedist

(pre-flatback), I was told that if I was lucky my degenrating discs

below the fusion would self fuse. No such luck yet, but it may not

be limitted to people who have never had surgery.

>

> > , thanks for the links, I too read the information with

qreat

> > interest. Have you heard anything about self-fusing? I see Rand

on the

> > 21st and I plan on asking him. I will be sure to share.

> >

> > Ann

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My L2-3 disc collapsed because of the kyphosis I was fused in, and some time between 1996 (when I had my discharge xray, 2 years after my May 1994 original surgery) and 2001 when I had the xrays that revealed it's total absence, I auto-fused at that level.

I know someone with an uninstrumented fusion who has autofused at at least one level below it some point between her original fusion at age 15 and a checkup a couple of years ago at age 37. She doesn't remember any particular lower back pain, so had no idea it had happened.

titch-- The wages of sin are death, but by the time taxes are taken out, it's just sort of a tired feeling - a Poundstone

[Guest guest]

I am having a sudden problem with my SI joints.. particularly in my left

hip. It had been bothering me a little but yesterday just was unremitting

all day. i could barely walk. I took my meds butr nothing helped

really.... I'm still having the tickling feeling in my calf and just above

my knee in that leg.. but now am feeling it i the right leg too and the SI

has just begun to hurt a little there too.

Where is the tin man and his oil can today!!!!

Liz Kilpatrick

On the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River, Davenport,IA/Quad cities

~~~~~~

" People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but

people will never forget how you made them feel. " ~~~~~~~ Maya Angelou

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EMAIL: juliette@...

PERSONAL HOMEPAGE PAGE http://members.tripod.com/~LizK

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Guest guest]

> I am having a sudden problem with my SI joints.. particularly in my

left

>

Liz,

I use ice, I lay on ice packs when it gets that bad. ...Brent

[Guest guest]

Thanks Brent. I will try that.. I have never had it this bad and it kind

of scares me!

On Mon, 18 Sep 2006, skrewtz wrote:

>> I am having a sudden problem with my SI joints.. particularly in my

> left

>>

> Liz,

> I use ice, I lay on ice packs when it gets that bad. ...Brent

[Guest guest]

>

> Thanks Brent. I will try that.. I have never had it this bad and it

kind

> of scares me!

>

Hi tte,

I just had the same problem a few weeks ago. It was very scary and I

thought for sure that surgery was the answer. I went to the

chiropractor and had some adjustments. While I was there they iced my

back for about 10-15 minute. It really helped and the pain is gone

Janet

[Guest guest]

Liz, just to be safe I would have a urinalysis done, too. A kidney

or bladder infection can cause low back pain. With all the

painkillers most of us take, not to mention the immunosuppressants,

you can get a bad infection quickly and might think the pain is PA

related when it's not. Just to be sure...

regards,

sherry

>

> I am having a sudden problem with my SI joints.. particularly in

my left

> hip. It had been bothering me a little but yesterday just was

unremitting

> all day. i could barely walk. I took my meds butr nothing helped

> really.... I'm still having the tickling feeling in my calf and

just above

> my knee in that leg.. but now am feeling it i the right leg too

and the SI

> has just begun to hurt a little there too.

>

> Where is the tin man and his oil can today!!!!

>

> Liz Kilpatrick

> On the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River, Davenport,IA/Quad

cities

> ~~~~~~

> " People will forget what you said, people will forget what you

did, but

> people will never forget how you made them feel. " ~~~~~~~ Maya

Angelou

>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~

> EMAIL: juliette@...

> PERSONAL HOMEPAGE PAGE http://members.tripod.com/~LizK

>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~

>

[Guest guest]

Carol,

I'm experiencing the same thing! My revision surgery was in Feb. I've

been in PT a few weeks now, and I am experiencing sharp pain in my SI

joint. My Ph Therarpist examined me & thinks it's a hardware problem,

maybe a screw. I was instructed to go light on the excercising until I

see my Surgeon again for an x-ray.

Please let me know if you figure out what is causing your pain.

I hope you feel better.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ! Thanks for responding. After reading the comments of Cam and

, I started analyzing my pain. I also have taken very few

Oxycontin this week. I am trying to get off of it, and have only taken

it when the pain interferes with my sleep. I think that it could be the

screws. The pain is deep in the pelvic bone usually, but sometimes

it " twinges " at the point the screws go into the pelvis. The pain is

now not " screaming " like it was before, but sometimes it does. Right

now it is kind of a steady, dull ache in the pelvis. I intend on

showing my PT the X-rays this week, ask their opinion, and then e-mail

Dr. Hu. I can't really get in to see her any sooner than the

appointment I have in Sept., because of my husband's work schedule.

From 's experience, they won't want to do anything until

everything seems to be " fused " and more solid in there, anyway.

Hopefully, the surgery to remove the screws would be more in Dec. or

later. That will be what Dr. Hu " sees " when she would X-ray me. I do

know that in late June, she didn't see any " movement " in any of the

screws or bolts, so I thought that was good. I don't know if the pain

means the screws are actually moving, or what. Keep in touch!

Carol

>

> Carol,

>

> I'm experiencing the same thing! My revision surgery was in Feb. I've

> been in PT a few weeks now, and I am experiencing sharp pain in my SI

> joint. My Ph Therarpist examined me & thinks it's a hardware problem,

> maybe a screw. I was instructed to go light on the excercising until

I

> see my Surgeon again for an x-ray.

>

> Please let me know if you figure out what is causing your pain.

>

> I hope you feel better.

>

>

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol V,

Yes, it was me with SI Joint problems. Sorry it's taken me so long to respond, but I haven't been on the computer for a couple of days.

First, I am so sorry you are having such trouble with your SI Joints, I know first hand how frustrating it is to think that revision surgery will end years of pain only to find out that you now have a different kind of pain. Grrr. But, it can get better. I am doing a thousand percent better now than a year ago. The reason I haven't been on the computer for a few days is because I was too busy having fun, while a year ago at this time I cancelled a trip to California to visit relatives because I was in too much pain. So, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The first suggestion I have for you is to stop the PT that is causing the pain. PT should not hurt. If it does, it's the wrong PT for you. I think your first priority is to get rid of the SI Joint pain, or get it to where it's reasonable. Then you can do different exercises to attack the core strength issue. I had to change physical therapists three times before finding one that really understood my back and my SI Joint issues. In the meantime, if I were you, I would limit exercising to walking. Keep your head straight, shoulders back and tighten your stomach muscles as you walk.

I also had to change pain docs 3 times to find one that could help me. He put me on a low dose of Methadone, along with a cream that has an anti-inflammatory and Lidocaine in it. Then he sent me to a wonderful physical therapist who I saw for 3 months, 3 times per week, for cranial-sacral therapy and acupressure. The combination did the trick for me. I still take Methadone and do the at home exercises the therapist taught me and I've maintained the improvement. People are still telling me they can't see pain in my face anymore. The most recent was a handyman who came to the house for the first time in over a year and the first thing he said to me was that I must be feeling better because he doesn't see the pain in my face any more. Of course, I still need to be careful and get enough rest, and not walk too long, stand too long or sit too long. But that's quite doable. Standing is, of course, the worst. But at this point, I can sit through any movie, or dinner, or a few hours of mah long and I can walk for well over an hour and can shop for an afternoon so long as I take sitting breaks. Life is good. Not perfect, but good.

I tried two different SI Joint belts and found that both made the pain worse. One was even fitted by an orthotist.

I hope this helps. If you want, I can email you my phone number if you want to talk in person.

Bonnie

[ ] SI Joints

Bonnie, was it you who said she has trouble with her SI joints? I would like to talk to you about it. I have started having alot of pain in my SI's since I started physical therapy. Of course, the idea of PT is to strengthen and stabilize my core muscles. If that is ever possible!! Right now it seems that I will never be able to accomplish it. My back and body have been messed up now for over 30 yrs after the original HR surgery, and now, that I have NO movement at all in my pelvis and lower back, my SI's are screaming!!! Now I realize that some of that "lower back pain" I had before my surgery in March was due to SI pain. Is there anything that can be done for it other than wearing a support belt? I realize by going that route I will short-circuit any gains from the PT, but right now I feel desperate. I went to PT today and I cannot move without them hurting! Especially standing and walking around. I also get excruciating pain trying to get out of bed. I don't think there would be any pain pill that could even begin to touch this. If there is, I'm sure it would put me in bed, because I'd be practically unconscious from the strength of it. Any thoughts and help, anyone, I'd appreciate it. Carol V. (CA)

[Guest guest]

Carol,

I don't think my screws are necessarily moving... I think when I work

out what happens is I am moving some of that butt muscle much more

frequently over the screw head...and when I use the flippers while

swimming I perhaps am flexing those muscle even more...and that in turn

leads to a muscular irritation...which will settle down if I just ease

up on the flipper/fins.

DrRand says he buries the screw heads very deeply, much more deeply

than he used to...but he didn't discount the idea that muscle

irritation could create the sensation I described.

Anyway, thats my theory and I am sticking to it!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

There are several different kinds of SI Joint Belts. The idea is that they support the SI Joints to take pressure off the joint. As I said in my post to Carol, I tried two and they only made me worse. I think that's because of residual scoli, but I am not sure. I didn't keep the ones I got, and I don't remember the name or where I go them from. But, you can start with a google search for SI Joint Belts, maybe spell it out, Sacroiliac Joint belts, try Sammons Preston (www.sammonspreston.com) or any other physical therapy supply site. Good luck with your search. If you can't find one, let me know and I'll search again myself. But don't stop at the first one you find. There are several different types so you should probably look into a few before choosing one. If you are seeing a physical therapist, maybe you should ask his/her opinion first.

Good luck.

Bonnie

[ ] Re: SI Joints

Carol,I've never heard of a support device for SI joint pain. Could you tell me about it?I've got to get my next pain doc appointment before I'm sure, but you might be able to get a nerve block for your lower back.>> Bonnie, was it you who said she has trouble with her SI joints? I > would like to talk to you about it. I have started having alot of > pain in my SI's since I started physical therapy. Of course, the idea > of PT is to strengthen and stabilize my core muscles. If that is ever > possible!! Right now it seems that I will never be able to accomplish > it. My back and body have been messed up now for over 30 yrs after > the original HR surgery, and now, that I have NO movement at all in > my pelvis and lower back, my SI's are screaming!!! Now I realize that > some of that "lower back pain" I had before my surgery in March was > due to SI pain. Is there anything that can be done for it other than > wearing a support belt? I realize by going that route I will short-> circuit any gains from the PT, but right now I feel desperate. I went > to PT today and I cannot move without them hurting! Especially > standing and walking around. I also get excruciating pain trying to > get out of bed. I don't think there would be any pain pill that could > even begin to touch this. If there is, I'm sure it would put me in > bed, because I'd be practically unconscious from the strength of it. > Any thoughts and help, anyone, I'd appreciate it. > > Carol V. (CA)

[Guest guest]

HI , Carol,

You are right, of course, that Carol should check with Dr. Hu to see whether her pain is really SI Joint pain. Carol, when you talk to Dr. Hu about that, even if she poo-poos the idea, please insist upon a CT scan of the SI Joints. That will tell for sure if the SI Joints are the culprits.

Bonnie

[ ] Re: SI Joints

I've found, , that medical doctors don't seem to view the SI Joint as much of anything. I haven't asked my surgeon exactly about it, but I will when I see her in Sept. It's something that PT's and Chiropractors usually talk about. I'm currently doing PT, and they said that's what's hurting. I try so hard to hold in my stomach muscles and pelvic floor muscles, but it's hard!! I went online and googled "Sacroiliac brace" or something like that, and got some hits. Some look like they would help, and others, not. If I can even strengthen my core muscles to accomplish the pain-free situation, I will have to work very hard. I've learned from you and others here that it's very difficult to find any injections that seem to help, and obviously, STRONG ENOUGH pain pills don't help, either. I want to go back to work in a few months and hopefully not be on any pain meds. Or, at least, a very mild one. I would have to be on morphine or something as strong to take the pain away. Luckily, I don't have the pain all the time. Only when I move certain ways. But they are the ways I have to move! Thanks Carol V. > >> > Bonnie, was it you who said she has trouble with her SI joints? I > > would like to talk to you about it. I have started having alot of > > pain in my SI's since I started physical therapy. Of course, the > idea > > of PT is to strengthen and stabilize my core muscles. If that is > ever > > possible!! Right now it seems that I will never be able to > accomplish > > it. My back and body have been messed up now for over 30 yrs after > > the original HR surgery, and now, that I have NO movement at all in > > my pelvis and lower back, my SI's are screaming!!! Now I realize > that > > some of that "lower back pain" I had before my surgery in March was > > due to SI pain. Is there anything that can be done for it other > than > > wearing a support belt? I realize by going that route I will short-> > circuit any gains from the PT, but right now I feel desperate. I > went > > to PT today and I cannot move without them hurting! Especially > > standing and walking around. I also get excruciating pain trying to > > get out of bed. I don't think there would be any pain pill that > could > > even begin to touch this. If there is, I'm sure it would put me in > > bed, because I'd be practically unconscious from the strength of > it. > > Any thoughts and help, anyone, I'd appreciate it. > > > > Carol V. (CA)>