Do you suffer from pain in the lower back, pelvis, or legs? Has it become difficult to walk, run, or even stand without pain getting in the way? These could all be signs of complications with your sacroiliac (SI) joint.
If issues with your sacroiliac joint are causing you pain, you may be a candidate for a sacroiliac joint fusion. Sacroiliac joint fusion is a minimally invasive procedure that can help treat issues in the SI joint. Learn more about the benefits of a sacroiliac joint fusion in this article or schedule a consultation with an experienced neurosurgeon today to see if a sacroiliac joint fusion is right for you.
What is the Sacroiliac Joint?
The sacroiliac joint is the joint that is in-between your sacrum and ilium. The sacrum is a triangle-shaped bone that is immobile, located in the lower part of the spine. The iliac bones are two big bones that compose the pelvis.
These two bones are held together by ligaments. There is little to no motion with the SI Joints, usually only about 4 degrees of rotation. The SI Joints are strong due to the ability they have to support the entire upper half of the body. Wear and tear of the cartilage of these SI Joints can lead to pain in the back, pelvis, or spine.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Pain in the lower back or lower back can cause SI Joint Dysfunction or SI Joint Pain. Damaged SI Joints can be responsible for up to 30% of lower back pain cases in the United States. This type of disorder is more common to women who are middle-aged and women who have recently given birth. The inflammation of the joints can cause defects in the joints.
The main cause of SI Joint dysfunction is when the cartilage between the joints start to wear out. The cartilage is important in allowing the joints to move and also be the shock absorber for the spine and the bones of the SI joint. When the cartilage begins to wear out the bones can start to rub against one another causing pain.
Signs of Sacroiliac Joint Problems
Sacroiliac joint problems are the cause of lower back pain in more people than you might think. In fact, clinical studies have shown that complications in the SI joint are the source of low back pain in an estimated 15%-30% of patients. That number is even higher in patients who have undergone a lumbar fusion. New or worsening lower back pain symptoms stem from SI joint problems in an estimated 43% of patients following a lumbar fusion.
Problems in the sacroiliac joint can often occur due to traumatic injury or degeneration of the joint. These complications typically lead to symptoms, such as pain in the lower back, buttocks, or legs. Because of the location of the SI joint and the important role it plays as a major weight-bearing joint for the upper body, SI joint issues can affect your ability to walk, run, exercise, or even sleep comfortably.
Sacroiliac Joint Pain Causes
Pain stemming from the SI joint could be caused by a number of issues, such as:
- Traumatic injury: The SI joint can be damaged by a sudden impact injury, such as a car accident or a high fall.
- Arthritis: An inflammatory joint disease, like osteoarthritis, can lead to wear-and-tear in the sacroiliac joint.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Certain conditions may cause SI joint pain, such as having one leg longer than the other, a twisted pelvis, or muscle imbalance.
- Infection: Although rare, infections in the sacroiliac joint can lead to pain and complications within the joint.
- Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the sacroiliac joint must loosen and stretch. The added weight and stress placed on the SI joint during pregnancy can lead to complications within the joint and pain.
Sacroiliac Joint Pain Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of sacroiliac joint problems can include:
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the pelvis and buttocks
- Hip and groin pain
- Numbness, weakness, tingling, or pain in the lower extremities
- Radiating pain down one or both legs
- A feeling of instability in the legs
- Difficulty transitioning from sitting to standing
- Trouble sleeping due to pain
- Inability to sit for long periods of time without pain
Sacroiliac Joint Fusion
At Florida Surgery Consultants, our spine surgeons use the iFuse Implant System from SI-Bone. Our spine surgeons feel like this is the most effective procedure for patients. Over 82% of patients have said that they were satisfied with the surgery and would have it again to achieve the same result.
Pain reduction is significant for patients who have had the surgery. Patients can also feel comfortable knowing that this procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that has an incision of fewer than 2 inches. The procedure can be done in an outpatient facility, allowing patients to go home the same day. No overnight hospital stays will be needed. The major benefit of this procedure is minimally invasive is that the recovery times are also much shorter.
Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Procedure
The implant system is made out of titanium with a porous outer surface. The main goal of the implant system is to prevent the SI Joints from moving. These implants are also coated with titanium plasma spray which has been used for decades in orthopedics surgery.
While protecting your soft tissues, the surgeon carefully drills a channel along this pin. It passes into the ilium, through the SI joint and into the sacrum. The first implant is inserted, locking these bones together. Typically, two or more implants will be needed to stabilize your joint. Over time, new bone will grow on and around the implants and across the joint, creating a solid fusion.
Who is a Candidate for Sacroiliac Joint Fusion?
It is important to keep in mind that sacroiliac joint fusion is elective surgery, meaning it is the patient’s choice whether or not to get the procedure. That being said, patients should not consider sacroiliac joint fusion until they have exhausted their non-surgical treatment options.
Most doctors will recommend that you try at least 8 to 12 weeks of non-surgical treatment options for your SI joint pain before considering surgery. Non-surgical treatment options for sacroiliac joint pain include:
- Physical therapy
- An SI belt
- Pain medication
- Chiropractic adjustment
- Sacroiliac joint injection
If pain symptoms continue to persist despite non-surgical treatment, it may be time to consider a sacroiliac joint fusion. Before deciding on surgery, consider whether or not surgery is likely to improve your overall quality of life.
Speak to a Neurologist about Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Today
The sacroiliac joint plays an important part in helping us perform our daily tasks. When complications in the SI joint begin leading to pain and discomfort, it can really upset your ability to enjoy life. If non-surgical treatment options for your SI joint pain have proven ineffective, it may be time for a sacroiliac joint fusion.
At Florida Surgery Consultants, our board certified neurosurgeons have years of experience diagnosing and treating patients who suffer from SI joint pain. If you are ready to discuss your treatment options, give us a call today at 833-50-PAINFREE or schedule your consultation online by filling out the form on this page.
