Your Lower Back Pain May Be This Joint
Back pain, notably lower back pain, affects millions of Americans every year. Most cases are due to the lower vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Slipped discs and arthritis are common conditions. In some instances, the back pain can be due to the sacroiliac joint (SI) joint. SI joint pain is severe and can impact one’s quality of life. The dull yet sharp pain can move to other parts of the body. In rare cases, SI fusion is a surgical procedure that can help.

What is the SI joint?
The sacroiliac joint (SI) joint is a fibrous joint that sits at the end of the spine. The joint connects the inner pelvis to the sacrum, that thick piece of bone at the end of the spine. Each side has one SI joint, responsible for load-bearing and stability, especially when standing. SI joint pains happen from falls, accidents, or arthritis. In addition, long hours sitting, pregnancy, or repeated impact can cause pain. Previous spinal fusions can cause overcompensation and increase the joint’s damage in rare cases.
What to expect with SI pain
SI joint pain is hard to diagnose. The lower discs and vertebrae have similar symptoms to SI joint pain. Most people will experience lower back pain on one side when sitting, general stiffness, and discomfort. The joint can move too much or not enough, causing sacroiliitis. An orthopedic surgeon or neurologist will need to perform a series of tests to determine if the SI joint is the problem. These include physical examinations, CT scans, or an MRI.
Treating your SI joint
SI fusion is not taken lightly, and the surgical team will try non-surgical methods first. For instance, the team injects pain medication using fluoroscopy. If this provides pain relief, then other techniques can help. These include physical therapy, steroid injections, chiropractic care, PRP, and much more. SI fusion may be an option if these fail to bring long-term relief after several months.
It’s time for fusion
SI fusion is a minimally invasive procedure that stabilizes the pelvis and sacrum. The surgeon will make small incisions at the lower back and move the pelvic muscles. In some cases, the surgeon enters from the buttock area. Fluoroscopy allows the doctor to have a clear view of the joint. The surgeon will clean up bone spurs or tissue causing pain and stiffness if necessary. A hole is drilled through the iliac crest, where titanium or ceramic implant is inserted. The surgery can take about an hour, and based on the setting, and the patient may leave the same day.
Can your surgeon operate on both sides?
SI joint pain usually occurs unilaterally, meaning on one side. Both SI joints can cause pain, stiffness, and discomfort sporadically. Bilateral dysfunction means that both joints need treatment. The surgeon can operate on one side first and the other later, or both sides at once. Surgery is possible but depends on 2 factors. First, the health of the patient is crucial. Can the patient take on the trauma of 2 fusions? The other factor is the overall decision of the patient. The patient can decide if to delay surgery or not.
Trust your surgeon
Chronic SI joint pain can severely impact the quality of life. If both joints are causing discomfort and surgery is necessary, SI fusion can happen on both sides. Since surgery is minimally invasive, surgery is possible on both sides in one procedure. However, that depends on the health of the patient. The surgeon will best advise if to delay surgery on one side or not. With recovery after surgery on both sides, there will be a significant improvement in pain. Look for the signs of SI joint pain and speak with a doctor today.
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“Dr. Dedhia made everything clear and even scheduled an early follow-up appt so I could get back to work sooner.”
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“Efficiency of the staff. Courteous, friendly and caring attitude. Excellent office staff. Pleasant surroundings.”
“Experience was amazing. The nurses my son needed at this time couldn’t have been chosen any more perfect. They were supportive and understanding, patient and just great human beings.THANK YOU KINDLY ”
“Anesthesia staff was outstanding!”
“Rebecca was amazing. I have always had trouble in the past with getting an IV started. I told Rebecca I was concerned about it. She got it on the 1st try – no digging in my arm and NO bruising the next day.”
“The staff was very polite, they were excellent. They explained exactly what was going on.”
“Everyone was friendly and the place was very clean.”
“Marcia and staff were excellent and genuinely cared for my well being. Wish I could have taken them home.”
“Entire staff was knowledgeable and courteous. They genuinely cared for my well being and made sure my wife and I were taken care of.”
“Amazing nurses, very caring and friendly and put both me and my son at ease.”
“The STAFF from the moment you walk in were the nicest people I’ve encountered at a medical facility.”
“Dr. Best…is the best!”
“NO wait time, RN Rebecca answered all questions prior to my visit by phone and again answered all questions and concerns while prepping me.”
“All staff were wonderful.”
“Incredibly professional, friendly and confidence of knowing their roles as healthcare employees. Excellent!”
“No severe pain – Just a little discomfort – I was asked several times during procedure if I was OK – they showed genuine concern for my well being.”
“Everyone was friendly and concerned about my comfort. They frequently asked how I was doing, or if I needed something.”
“Everyone was concerned with my comfort.”
“Efficiency of the staff. Courteous, friendly and caring attitude. Excellent office staff. Pleasant surroundings.”
“The nurses were very nice and caring!”
“Marcia and staff were excellent and genuinely cared for my well being. Wish I could have taken them home.”
“Everyone was friendly and the place was very clean.”
“Everyone was concerned with my comfort.”
“Dr. Tupper was amazing! He spent time explaining exactly what he was doing, what I would experience and made sure I was comfortable.”
“The staff was great, especially Mary and Marcia. Marcia was extremely helpful post-op and made sure I was comfortable and well-cared for.”
“Entire staff was knowledgeable and courteous. They genuinely cared for my well being and made sure my wife and I were taken care of.”
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Hip labral repair is an effective surgical solution designed to correct tears in the labrum, providing stability and reducing pain in the hip joint.
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Ear tubes help children avoid the pain and hearing loss associated with recurrent ear infections by improving air circulation within the ear.
Do Carpal Tunnel Symptoms Return After Surgery? Some Simple Recovery Tips
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