[Sacroiliac Joint Fusion / Dysfunction] My Right Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Fusion Surgery- 3/10/09

[Justin]

Good news on the improved pain diagram and fusion.

[Ryan G]

im really pleased for you that the fusion is looking a lot better and thats great news about the pain reduction.

[Cindylou]

I saw my SI Joint Fusion Doctor yesterday for several reasons: one, is that back in the late spring my back doc looked at the 12 month Cat Scan of my right SI Joint and said he didn't believe it was fused and was likely still a big pain generator. He recommended I revisit that with my SI J F doc if it continued to cause me pain. two, he gives a thorough physical exam and I thought that was necessary as well, as the pain in my low back has been getting increasingly worse. Well, the good news first: he took more x-rays yesterday and said that the right SI Joint is definitely fused, and more fused than it was when I saw him last, in March, at the 12 month post op visit. When I told him I also had received a right SI Joint steroid injection a week ago to try and give me relief until this appt. w/ him, he got very testy and somewhat condescending, remarking that it is impossible to have a right SI Joint injection! It is fused! You don't have a joint there anymore! I got visibly upset and then began to hold my own and say well I'm not a doctor! Then why did the pain management doctor do the injection?? Shouldn't he know that?! He was also upset that the back doc had suggested it wasn't fused, and said he would go to bat with anyone, including a radiologist, to show that it was indeed fused. He accused me of going to another doctor behind his back and why didn't I just come back to him first. I was like, what are you talking about? I didn't know what was causing my pain and the back doctor made that observation about it not being fused. And, I've tried to get into you, but you've been out of town.....so I am here at your soonest available appt for me! Well, he stepped out of the exam room at that point to get something, and when he came back he had a major attitude adjustment and was much calmer. (I even had a friend with me at the appt., so she witnessed the whole thing) He ultimately believes that I likely have connective tissue pain and pain coming from the artificial discs, due to the extreme altering of my spine. He said he would never consider a spinal cord stimulator or a pain pump, and instead my last resort should be to consider fusing over all my artificial lumbar Prodiscs, not with him, but with the respectable surgeon who did my ALIF a few years back. Wow. That blew me away. I am far from considering that but he sure gave me alot to think about. At the end of the appt. I put my hand out to shake his, my truce, and instead he came forward and hugged me....his truce, I imagine. I am trying to just take care of my broken body, count my blessings, and be patient for more healing. One thing I agree on with myself: my current pain levels are not acceptable for the rest of my life. I refuse to say this is as good as it gets.

[Hooch]

They're a weird mob, doctors.

[Greg]

WOW Thats a lot to take in! Bless your heart you have been through so much already that theres got to be a better answer than to fuse over all the ADR's. Best of luck to you CL....WOW

[dalhousie]

Oh Cindylou you have such a lot to deal with at the moment. I don't know what to say other than after some thinking time & reflection I hope you find an acceptable way through this. When you're in this dilemma it really doesn't help when medical staff start being testy - it's empathy & support you need at a time like this.

Thinking of you during these difficult times.




xx

[KBear]

Oh my goodness CL I hope that you are able to find relief without fusing over all your Prodiscs. I'm glad they think the SI joint is fused.

[Carson]

Has anyone suggested your facets are contributing to the pain, CL? Are your lumbar facets looking OK?

edit: As I understand it an SI injection actually penetrates the SI joint ligament tissue numbing the the ligaments and joint capsule around the joint. If your SI is fused it would make an SI injection impossible; the needle would hit bone. So I guess your doctor was frustrated, in part, with the doctor who administered the SI injection.

[Cindylou]

Thank-you guys. Definitely, it was a weird appt. Fusing my prodiscs is not even on my radar at this time. Upping meds and perhaps a facet block for diagnostic purposes is as far as I have gone. The only pause I have had is......and I don't usually ever "look back," but should I have just had a 3 level fusion instead?!

[Cindylou]

Oh, I think we must have been writing at the same time Carson. No, my facets are not looking great. More arthritic.