Re: 's SI joints

March 10, 2006

Hi , I'm sorry you have to deal with this.. I will be hoping for the best for you!! Thanks again for being there for me... Take care, Ken. Blackledge <scottb2@...> wrote: I've been having lower back pain for awhile now and have just about completed two months of PT. This has helped alot but has not completely solved the problem. The therapist believes the problem to be in the SI joint area which was confirmed by my ortho.My xrays look good with no arthritis. The fusion looks good also. The doctor believes my issue to be "transfer pain" (the SI joints are now taking the stress that was formerly taken by my unfused spine). He's given me Mobic which I think is an

anti-inflamatory. We'll see how well that works.On one hand, I'm glad that I have a treatment plan. On the other, I don't like the feeling my back is giving me until that stuff starts to work.If the Mobic doesn't work, its a cortisone shot for me and I'll see how well that works.

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

March 10, 2006

, I'm sorry about the SI joints. I hope you're able to get control of

the pain.

Sharon

[ ] 's SI joints

> I've been having lower back pain for awhile now and have just about

> completed two months of PT. This has helped alot but has not

> completely solved the problem. The therapist believes the problem to

> be in the SI joint area which was confirmed by my ortho.

>

> My xrays look good with no arthritis. The fusion looks good also.

> The doctor believes my issue to be " transfer pain " (the SI joints are

> now taking the stress that was formerly taken by my unfused spine).

> He's given me Mobic which I think is an anti-inflamatory. We'll see

> how well that works.

>

> On one hand, I'm glad that I have a treatment plan. On the other, I

> don't like the feeling my back is giving me until that stuff starts to

> work.

>

> If the Mobic doesn't work, its a cortisone shot for me and I'll see

> how well that works.

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>

March 10, 2006

HI ,

I have been dealing with the same SI Joint problem. Remember how they said that after revision to sacrum, the next "to go" would be the knees and hips? The "transfer" " of stress from the unfused spine. They forgot to tell us, or at least me, that in some cases, the first to go are the SI Joints. Then again, my revision surgery was over eight years ago and it could be that then they didn't know how much stress would transfer to the SI Joints. We are still guinea pigs. I'm not complaining: by the time I had my first surgery, my curves were 70/55 and still going. I had no choice but to act, and the docs have done the best they could for me. But my SI Joints are now a big issue. Very painful. Is interfering with my life. Tried one pain doc and it took me awhile to realize he was an idiot. I just started with a new pain doc. I can't take an anti-inflammatory due to stomach issues after being on anti-inflammatories for nine years. So the plan, agreed to by my local ortho, and Dr. Boachie (my revision surgeon) is for an SI Joint shot on the right side first. If that works, do one for the left side. Assuming that works, do denervation. Medial Branch block is probably out for me because the fusion is in the way. My right side SI Joint shot is scheduled for Monday. I'll let you know what happens. That doc switched me from Paxil to Cymbalta two weeks ago After we know the effect of the SI Joint shot, he is going to switch me from Percoset to Oxycontin. (Percoset was due to other, idiot doc). I also take Ambien to sleep. I also take Neurontin and eventually we will determine if that's still working after 8 years and, if not, switch to something else. Sounds complicated, but it's not. Just trying the shots and changing to more appropriate drugs. It all takes time to get the whole thing done - can't change more than one thing at a time. If you do, you don't know what works and what doesn't.

Don't let any of this scare any of you. Our futures are not guaranteed. I think we all know that. But the docs have done the best they can with the knowledge they have. I will never give up!

My daughter is here visiting for the weekend so I'm going to be busy till after the injection Monday. She's annoyed with me for taking time away from her to write this email. She 37 years old. Grrrrr.

I'll let you all know how I fare with the shot. If I have time, I'll check email before Monday afternoon, but I might not be able to.

. Hang in. I really do hate to say this, but I'm glad I'm not alone. And I'm glad that your docs and mine are thinking to do the same things. That's comforting.

Bonnie

[ ] 's SI joints

I've been having lower back pain for awhile now and have just about completed two months of PT. This has helped alot but has not completely solved the problem. The therapist believes the problem to be in the SI joint area which was confirmed by my ortho.My xrays look good with no arthritis. The fusion looks good also. The doctor believes my issue to be "transfer pain" (the SI joints are now taking the stress that was formerly taken by my unfused spine). He's given me Mobic which I think is an anti-inflamatory. We'll see how well that works.On one hand, I'm glad that I have a treatment plan. On the other, I don't like the feeling my back is giving me until that stuff starts to work.If the Mobic doesn't work, its a cortisone shot for me and I'll see how well that works.

March 10, 2006

Hi ,

Forgot: SI Joint deterioration was found by CT scan.

Local ortho said he could fuse the SI Joints to my pelvis, but then I "really" wouldn't be able to move.

Back to daughter.

Bonnie

[ ] 's SI joints

I've been having lower back pain for awhile now and have just about completed two months of PT. This has helped alot but has not completely solved the problem. The therapist believes the problem to be in the SI joint area which was confirmed by my ortho.My xrays look good with no arthritis. The fusion looks good also. The doctor believes my issue to be "transfer pain" (the SI joints are now taking the stress that was formerly taken by my unfused spine). He's given me Mobic which I think is an anti-inflamatory. We'll see how well that works.On one hand, I'm glad that I have a treatment plan. On the other, I don't like the feeling my back is giving me until that stuff starts to work.If the Mobic doesn't work, its a cortisone shot for me and I'll see how well that works.

March 13, 2006

Thanks for your note, Bonnie (and Sharon, and Ken, and others).

If you've been around the various groups for awhile, you know I try

to add a bit of humor to some (many?) of my messages. Every once in

awhile I just don't feel like joking. My wife kind of kids me,

saying that its about time for something else to need fixing (I'm

kind of averaging a set of problems about every three or so years -

can't quite set my calendar to it, but its more true than not).

Words of wisdom: You know you've had a good physical when you leave

without any specialist referrals :-)

I think I deal well with problems when I know the cause; I should

avoid action X because it causes pain. The thing I don't deal with

well is stuff that hurts, well, just because. The SI joints seem to

be " one of those " things. I stop doing stuff and it still aches.

Last night was a great example. Add to it a family doc that really

doesn't want to prescribe narcotics (even though Darvocet and Mobic

and... don't work nearly as well) and an ortho that would rather not

be prescribing them either, I get frustrated. I have no problem

asking for a referral to a pain management doctor and will probably

do so as soon as I give the current plan a chance to work (even

though I don't really trust it).

The ortho says that, in most cases, the SI joints fuse themselves

(and that he hasn't done an SI fusion for 10 years). That's all

well and good, but now what? How successful was my ortho when

someone like Rand won't touch an SI fusion? What does it feel like

when your SI joints are fused? What will my gait be like if they do

choose to fuse? Will they hurt then? What will hurt after that?

What happens if they don't fuse by themselves? Should I start

planning for this stuff? How can I plan when I don't know what's

going to happen? (I do like a well-ordered life, don't I?)

I don't want another surgery. I don't want the recovery. I don't

(based on how I reacted to the last two fusions) want the

depression. I don't want yet another set of things I can't do. I

don't want to give up more foods because an energetic turtle is

getting more exercise (burning more calories) than I am.

On the other hand, if I do have to have another procedure, I know I

can get through it with the help of my family, both personal and

extended (you guys).

P.S. I don't like to complain in public. Hopefully this will be the

last one in quite awhile.

>

> HI ,

>

> I have been dealing with the same SI Joint problem. Remember how

they said that after revision to sacrum, the next " to go " would be

the knees and hips? The " transfer " " of stress from the unfused

spine. They forgot to tell us, or at least me, that in some cases,

the first to go are the SI Joints. Then again, my revision surgery

was over eight years ago and it could be that then they didn't know

how much stress would transfer to the SI Joints. We are still

guinea pigs. I'm not complaining: by the time I had my first

surgery, my curves were 70/55 and still going. I had no choice but

to act, and the docs have done the best they could for me. But my

SI Joints are now a big issue. Very painful. Is interfering with

my life. Tried one pain doc and it took me awhile to realize he was

an idiot. I just started with a new pain doc. I can't take an anti-

inflammatory due to stomach issues after being on anti-

inflammatories for nine years. So the plan, agreed to by my local

ortho, and Dr. Boachie (my revision surgeon) is for an SI Joint shot

on the right side first. If that works, do one for the left side.

Assuming that works, do denervation. Medial Branch block is

probably out for me because the fusion is in the way. My right side

SI Joint shot is scheduled for Monday. I'll let you know what

happens. That doc switched me from Paxil to Cymbalta two weeks ago

After we know the effect of the SI Joint shot, he is going to switch

me from Percoset to Oxycontin. (Percoset was due to other, idiot

doc). I also take Ambien to sleep. I also take Neurontin and

eventually we will determine if that's still working after 8 years

and, if not, switch to something else. Sounds complicated, but it's

not. Just trying the shots and changing to more appropriate drugs.

It all takes time to get the whole thing done - can't change more

than one thing at a time. If you do, you don't know what works and

what doesn't.

>

> Don't let any of this scare any of you. Our futures are not

guaranteed. I think we all know that. But the docs have done the

best they can with the knowledge they have. I will never give up!

>

> My daughter is here visiting for the weekend so I'm going to be

busy till after the injection Monday. She's annoyed with me for

taking time away from her to write this email. She 37 years old.

Grrrrr.

>

> I'll let you all know how I fare with the shot. If I have time,

I'll check email before Monday afternoon, but I might not be able to.

>

> . Hang in. I really do hate to say this, but I'm glad I'm

not alone. And I'm glad that your docs and mine are thinking to do

the same things. That's comforting.

March 13, 2006

, , ,

You JUST got done calling us your extended family, and then you said you

didn't like to complain in public. Now which are we, family or public?

Complain all you want. No sense making the rest of us look like whiners.

;^)

I don't know about SI joints fusing. Unless I'm mistaken, for a joint to

fuse spontaneously you have to have bone against bone. I would think it

would be pretty painful getting there.

Is your ortho the one who did your revision? Did he say he doesn't like to

fuse SI joints because they are hard to fuse? Or does he just think it

isn't worth the trouble because they will fuse eventually anyway?

I think you need to ask him some more questions, though hopefully someone

here has experience with this stuff. I have experience with SI pain, and

it's a b****, but not with fusion.

Sharon

[ ] Re: 's SI joints

> Thanks for your note, Bonnie (and Sharon, and Ken, and others).

>

> If you've been around the various groups for awhile, you know I try

> to add a bit of humor to some (many?) of my messages. Every once in

> awhile I just don't feel like joking. My wife kind of kids me,

> saying that its about time for something else to need fixing (I'm

> kind of averaging a set of problems about every three or so years -

> can't quite set my calendar to it, but its more true than not).

>

> Words of wisdom: You know you've had a good physical when you leave

> without any specialist referrals :-)

>

> I think I deal well with problems when I know the cause; I should

> avoid action X because it causes pain. The thing I don't deal with

> well is stuff that hurts, well, just because. The SI joints seem to

> be " one of those " things. I stop doing stuff and it still aches.

> Last night was a great example. Add to it a family doc that really

> doesn't want to prescribe narcotics (even though Darvocet and Mobic

> and... don't work nearly as well) and an ortho that would rather not

> be prescribing them either, I get frustrated. I have no problem

> asking for a referral to a pain management doctor and will probably

> do so as soon as I give the current plan a chance to work (even

> though I don't really trust it).

>

> The ortho says that, in most cases, the SI joints fuse themselves

> (and that he hasn't done an SI fusion for 10 years). That's all

> well and good, but now what? How successful was my ortho when

> someone like Rand won't touch an SI fusion? What does it feel like

> when your SI joints are fused? What will my gait be like if they do

> choose to fuse? Will they hurt then? What will hurt after that?

> What happens if they don't fuse by themselves? Should I start

> planning for this stuff? How can I plan when I don't know what's

> going to happen? (I do like a well-ordered life, don't I?)

>

> I don't want another surgery. I don't want the recovery. I don't

> (based on how I reacted to the last two fusions) want the

> depression. I don't want yet another set of things I can't do. I

> don't want to give up more foods because an energetic turtle is

> getting more exercise (burning more calories) than I am.

>

> On the other hand, if I do have to have another procedure, I know I

> can get through it with the help of my family, both personal and

> extended (you guys).

>

> P.S. I don't like to complain in public. Hopefully this will be the

> last one in quite awhile.

>

>>

>> HI ,

>>

>> I have been dealing with the same SI Joint problem. Remember how

> they said that after revision to sacrum, the next " to go " would be

> the knees and hips? The " transfer " " of stress from the unfused

> spine. They forgot to tell us, or at least me, that in some cases,

> the first to go are the SI Joints. Then again, my revision surgery

> was over eight years ago and it could be that then they didn't know

> how much stress would transfer to the SI Joints. We are still

> guinea pigs. I'm not complaining: by the time I had my first

> surgery, my curves were 70/55 and still going. I had no choice but

> to act, and the docs have done the best they could for me. But my

> SI Joints are now a big issue. Very painful. Is interfering with

> my life. Tried one pain doc and it took me awhile to realize he was

> an idiot. I just started with a new pain doc. I can't take an anti-

> inflammatory due to stomach issues after being on anti-

> inflammatories for nine years. So the plan, agreed to by my local

> ortho, and Dr. Boachie (my revision surgeon) is for an SI Joint shot

> on the right side first. If that works, do one for the left side.

> Assuming that works, do denervation. Medial Branch block is

> probably out for me because the fusion is in the way. My right side

> SI Joint shot is scheduled for Monday. I'll let you know what

> happens. That doc switched me from Paxil to Cymbalta two weeks ago

> After we know the effect of the SI Joint shot, he is going to switch

> me from Percoset to Oxycontin. (Percoset was due to other, idiot

> doc). I also take Ambien to sleep. I also take Neurontin and

> eventually we will determine if that's still working after 8 years

> and, if not, switch to something else. Sounds complicated, but it's

> not. Just trying the shots and changing to more appropriate drugs.

> It all takes time to get the whole thing done - can't change more

> than one thing at a time. If you do, you don't know what works and

> what doesn't.

>>

>> Don't let any of this scare any of you. Our futures are not

> guaranteed. I think we all know that. But the docs have done the

> best they can with the knowledge they have. I will never give up!

>>

>> My daughter is here visiting for the weekend so I'm going to be

> busy till after the injection Monday. She's annoyed with me for

> taking time away from her to write this email. She 37 years old.

> Grrrrr.

>>

>> I'll let you all know how I fare with the shot. If I have time,

> I'll check email before Monday afternoon, but I might not be able to.

>>

>> . Hang in. I really do hate to say this, but I'm glad I'm

> not alone. And I'm glad that your docs and mine are thinking to do

> the same things. That's comforting.

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>

March 13, 2006

Even family tires of too much bitching. I don't want to be people's

favorite reason to hit the delete key.

My ortho only said he hasn't done an SI fusion for awhile. He made

no mention on whether he likes to do them or not. He did say that

they tend to fuse on their own. I don't know under what conditions

he's assuming.

I'll be seeing him again on April 24.

>

> , , ,

>

> You JUST got done calling us your extended family, and then you

said you

> didn't like to complain in public. Now which are we, family or

public?

>

> Complain all you want. No sense making the rest of us look like

whiners.

> ;^)

>

> I don't know about SI joints fusing. Unless I'm mistaken, for a

joint to

> fuse spontaneously you have to have bone against bone. I would

think it

> would be pretty painful getting there.

>

> Is your ortho the one who did your revision? Did he say he

doesn't like to

> fuse SI joints because they are hard to fuse? Or does he just

think it

> isn't worth the trouble because they will fuse eventually anyway?

>

> I think you need to ask him some more questions, though hopefully

someone

> here has experience with this stuff. I have experience with SI

pain, and

> it's a b****, but not with fusion.

March 13, 2006

, I don't think you've ever been in danger of that with us. Good point

about family, though. My parents and sibs seem to be able to listen to

quite a bit, but my husband once mentioned that I seem to talk about my back

an awful lot. He has his limits in the listening department, and I know

he'll be through a lot when I do get revised, so I try not to overload him.

Maybe it doesn't hurt when SI joints fuse spontaneously, or at least there

are no nerve roots to pinch in the process. Otherwise I don't think they

would be so blase' about spontaneous fusion. But I'd definitely ask.

And please let us know what you learn. It's something that may affect many

of us.

Sharon

PS: Anyone want to volunteer to draw up a bitch-o-meter? This way we

can keep track and let him know when he's reached his quota.

;^)

[ ] Re: 's SI joints

> Even family tires of too much bitching. I don't want to be people's

> favorite reason to hit the delete key.

>

> My ortho only said he hasn't done an SI fusion for awhile. He made

> no mention on whether he likes to do them or not. He did say that

> they tend to fuse on their own. I don't know under what conditions

> he's assuming.

>

> I'll be seeing him again on April 24.

>

>>

>> , , ,

>>

>> You JUST got done calling us your extended family, and then you

> said you

>> didn't like to complain in public. Now which are we, family or

> public?

>>

>> Complain all you want. No sense making the rest of us look like

> whiners.

>> ;^)

>>

>> I don't know about SI joints fusing. Unless I'm mistaken, for a

> joint to

>> fuse spontaneously you have to have bone against bone. I would

> think it

>> would be pretty painful getting there.

>>

>> Is your ortho the one who did your revision? Did he say he

> doesn't like to

>> fuse SI joints because they are hard to fuse? Or does he just

> think it

>> isn't worth the trouble because they will fuse eventually anyway?

>>

>> I think you need to ask him some more questions, though hopefully

> someone

>> here has experience with this stuff. I have experience with SI

> pain, and

>> it's a b****, but not with fusion.

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>

March 13, 2006

Hi ...

I've been reluctant to say anything about this, for fear of jinxing

it. My PT gave me an exercise for my S-I joint pain about 6 months

ago, and I haven't had any real pain since then. It's a simple

exercise that I do every day. First, I stand on my right foot,

holding on to something with my left hand, and use my butt muscles to

turn the leg to the right. Then, I switch feet and hands, and do it

again. I do this 10x.

Regards,

>

> Even family tires of too much bitching. I don't want to be people's

> favorite reason to hit the delete key.

>

> My ortho only said he hasn't done an SI fusion for awhile. He made

> no mention on whether he likes to do them or not. He did say that

> they tend to fuse on their own. I don't know under what conditions

> he's assuming.

>

> I'll be seeing him again on April 24.

>

March 13, 2006

, I just tried that exercise, and it feels good.

I had a lot of SI joint pain a few years back. I would get so I couldn't

put weight on the associated leg without excruciating pain. To walk at all

involved holding myself up with my hands on my knee and hobbling miserably.

I suppose the joint was " out " , and it would only go back to where it

belonged if I sat with my hips well bent, or if my massage therapist worked

on my piriformis.

After I started a program of easy but balanced weight training, the attacks

stopped, and I haven't had a full-blown one since.

Sharon

[ ] Re: 's SI joints

> Hi ...

>

> I've been reluctant to say anything about this, for fear of jinxing

> it. My PT gave me an exercise for my S-I joint pain about 6 months

> ago, and I haven't had any real pain since then. It's a simple

> exercise that I do every day. First, I stand on my right foot,

> holding on to something with my left hand, and use my butt muscles to

> turn the leg to the right. Then, I switch feet and hands, and do it

> again. I do this 10x.

>

> Regards,

>

>>

>> Even family tires of too much bitching. I don't want to be people's

>> favorite reason to hit the delete key.

>>

>> My ortho only said he hasn't done an SI fusion for awhile. He made

>> no mention on whether he likes to do them or not. He did say that

>> they tend to fuse on their own. I don't know under what conditions

>> he's assuming.

>>

>> I'll be seeing him again on April 24.

>>

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>

March 13, 2006

That one made me laugh. Thanks, Sharon.

>...

>

> PS: Anyone want to volunteer to draw up a bitch-o-meter?

This way we

> can keep track and let him know when he's reached his quota.

>

> ;^)

March 14, 2006

well, I guess I should read all the posts before responding because

here is a good suggestion. Thanks !

> >

> > Even family tires of too much bitching. I don't want to be

people's

> > favorite reason to hit the delete key.

> >

> > My ortho only said he hasn't done an SI fusion for awhile. He

made

> > no mention on whether he likes to do them or not. He did say

that

> > they tend to fuse on their own. I don't know under what

conditions

> > he's assuming.

> >

> > I'll be seeing him again on April 24.

> >

>

March 14, 2006

That bitch-o-meter would look just about the same as the pain scale…

wouldn't it? But mine would also have giant spikes every 28 days.

Seriously , I could very much relate to your message. I too have

heard about the SI joints fusing themselves. As Sharon implied it may

very well be hellish getting to that point. I hope to soon have my

friend who is an acupuncturist work on me and I will let you know if

that helps. I think I wrote you before that I am reluctant to go for

the cortisone injections because I have found (FOR ME) the day after

those treatments to be very, very painful. Are you doing any water

therapy?

Thanks for sharing with us...your jokes AND your feelings.

" I feel your pain " (hehe)

Ann

March 14, 2006

---

,

I read your post, I guess it made me realize that even after it is

all said and done, it never really is...there are always " other "

issues...<pa

In , " Blackledge "

<scottb2@...> wrote:

>

> Thanks for your note, Bonnie (and Sharon, and Ken, and others).

>

> If you've been around the various groups for awhile, you know I try

> to add a bit of humor to some (many?) of my messages. Every once

in

> awhile I just don't feel like joking. My wife kind of kids me,

> saying that its about time for something else to need fixing (I'm

> kind of averaging a set of problems about every three or so years -

> can't quite set my calendar to it, but its more true than not).

>

> Words of wisdom: You know you've had a good physical when you leave

> without any specialist referrals :-)

>

> I think I deal well with problems when I know the cause; I should

> avoid action X because it causes pain. The thing I don't deal with

> well is stuff that hurts, well, just because. The SI joints seem

to

> be " one of those " things. I stop doing stuff and it still aches.

> Last night was a great example. Add to it a family doc that really

> doesn't want to prescribe narcotics (even though Darvocet and Mobic

> and... don't work nearly as well) and an ortho that would rather

not

> be prescribing them either, I get frustrated. I have no problem

> asking for a referral to a pain management doctor and will probably

> do so as soon as I give the current plan a chance to work (even

> though I don't really trust it).

>

> The ortho says that, in most cases, the SI joints fuse themselves

> (and that he hasn't done an SI fusion for 10 years). That's all

> well and good, but now what? How successful was my ortho when

> someone like Rand won't touch an SI fusion? What does it feel like

> when your SI joints are fused? What will my gait be like if they

do

> choose to fuse? Will they hurt then? What will hurt after that?

> What happens if they don't fuse by themselves? Should I start

> planning for this stuff? How can I plan when I don't know what's

> going to happen? (I do like a well-ordered life, don't I?)

>

> I don't want another surgery. I don't want the recovery. I don't

> (based on how I reacted to the last two fusions) want the

> depression. I don't want yet another set of things I can't do. I

> don't want to give up more foods because an energetic turtle is

> getting more exercise (burning more calories) than I am.

>

> On the other hand, if I do have to have another procedure, I know I

> can get through it with the help of my family, both personal and

> extended (you guys).

>

> P.S. I don't like to complain in public. Hopefully this will be

the

> last one in quite awhile.

>

> >

> > HI ,

> >

> > I have been dealing with the same SI Joint problem. Remember how