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.

3 Things to Know Before Your FESS surgery

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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“Entire staff was knowledgeable and courteous. They genuinely cared for my well being and made sure my wife and I were taken care of.”

“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 very polite, they were excellent. They explained exactly what was going on.”

“Everyone was friendly and the place was very clean.”

“Dr. Tupper was amazing! He spent time explaining exactly what he was doing, what I would experience and made sure I was comfortable.”

“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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“Everyone was friendly and concerned about my comfort. They frequently asked how I was doing, or if I needed something.”

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“NO wait time, RN Rebecca answered all questions prior to my visit by phone and again answered all questions and concerns while prepping me.”

“Everyone was concerned with my comfort.”

“Dr. Best…is the best!”
“The nurses were very nice and caring!”

“All staff were wonderful.”

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“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 ”
“Efficiency of the staff. Courteous, friendly and caring attitude. Excellent office staff. Pleasant surroundings.”
“Dr. Dedhia made everything clear and even scheduled an early follow-up appt so I could get back to work sooner.”

“Anesthesia staff was outstanding!”

“I can’t say enough about Marcia and the entire team. The care I received was well beyond anything I could have expected.”

“Amazing nurses, very caring and friendly and put both me and my son at ease.”

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