Sacroiliac Joint Degeneration (Human!) can anyone help please?

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alwaysbroke

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Ok, strictly not comp riders, but
a) it is affecting my riding
b) too scared to post anywhere else.

Brief history: have suffered from back pain for years, but it was becoming impossible to live with, disturbing sleep, unable to put sock on in the morning, emptying dishwasher on hands and knees, no pain killers helping. Was most comfortable while riding, then that started to get very painful, so was referred for an MRI scan.

Got results this week shows,

degeneration of spine at L5 / S1, which is doing its own spinal fusion so no need for surgery

and degeneration of SI joint.

was given very little time to discuss this diagnosis by the physio I saw, despite me trying to ask questions I was hustled out of the room as he had alot of paper work to do:confused:

have managed to glean that when SI fuses the pain will stop, but of course how long is a piece of string, and can not, as I expected give any indication of how long that will be. I can have an injection in to the joint, not steroid, as I have no sign of arthritis, but (for the life of me cant remember the name) something that may help the joint fuse quicker, although this is where the problem starts, I know that I an allergic to one of the drugs in this injection (just to complicate matters I have multiple allergy syndrome and react in bizarre ways to a host of things:()

I am now left wondering what I can and cant do until these joints fuse, and if I can do any exercises to help support the L5 / S1 area. As for the SI joint what happens when that does fuse how will I be affected? I really wanted to ask these questions at my appointment, and feel a bit of a fool for being kicked out of the room before having chance to ask, I usually manage to stand my ground, this time I failed:(

If anyone has any experience with this sort of problem I would be so grateful if you could pass on any words of wisdom, pm if you would rather:)
 
Can you speak to your GP?, ring them in advance to say you want to discuss your results so they can be forewarned. I saw my consultant after the mri who discussed the findings, i had severe narrowing of the spinal canal on L4 & 5 and a badly prolapsed disc. Sorry i am no help really but perfectly understand how you feel.
 
The fusing of my two vertebrae finally completed about 30 years from the point when the disc between them was ruptured. Once it had completely fused it was pain free.

I was refused surgical fusing as I was too active.

I would suggest that you go back to your GP and ask him to get the answers to your questions.

I find it infuriating that doctors can be so flippant with our lives. The original injury was misdiagnosed when I was 15yrs old, they missed the damaged disc on my X ray - 6 months later I was lying on the floor on my stomach reading the paper - my ankles crossed and I couldn't move - in hospital they found my X rays - Oops we missed a ruptured disc - we'll put your back in plaster for several weeks then take it off and wave goodbye - no follow up physio just bottle after bottle of Paracetamol. 15yrs of pain later riding centre boss took me to the chiro which was fantastic, came out a new person. Regular chiro helped keep me reletively pain free for many years while the two discs fused.
 
Yes I had problem with my SI joint when I was in my late teens. I was told it would take several years to fuse (which it did) and once it had, would cause no (or very little) problem - which has proved to be true.

I wasn't offered any sort of treatment - just told to go away, take painkillers and carry on as normal, which was not particularly easy as I was working with horses and riding around 8 a day!

You need to bear in mind that this was around 20 years ago, so I would hope medical science has moved on a bit since then!
 
Ask your GP about Amyltriptilin (sp) it is an antidepressant but it also changes how your body interprets pain. My osteo said to ask for it and the gp did perscribe it so may be worth a shot.
 
I have left sarcoliliac joint dysfunction following a break in that area and have actually had to stop riding as it got so bad :(

I do lots of lifting at work and there are four things I rely on to help stopping it "flaring up":

mctimoney chirpractor
acupuncture
a Prolite back support
a massage chair

I suppose now i've read them through they all work by treating muscles in that area.....I also do a lot of pilates and lots of squats and lunges to try and maximise my core stability so that i can keep my joint as stable as possible
 
Thank you all to for your replies, you have lifted my spirits, there is light at the end of the tunnel, I so look forward to not being in pain:)

I should have said that I have an appointment booked with my very good GP, but it is in 2 weeks time, just felt a bit low today and thought I would ask people with past experience.

Will also follow up all other suggestions:)

Many thanks and sympathy to fellow back pain suffers
 
I have a twisted sacroiliac joint! it canes like hell at certain times-if ive been stood for long time, sat for long time, cold, wet and damp(perfect for living in Ireland...NOT!!)
As my spine was damaged in a fall I find it difficult with ususal fitness programmes and I ended up doing pilates and yoga-they arent too difficult and help you develop muscle structure around injuries to help stay supple.
Oh yeah and whatever the drugs the doctor would give me :o
 
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