Hi Neednewback, you would probably benefit from reading this thread and reading Healing Back and Joint Injuries by Dr Valdez. In it he discusses many low risk treatments, one is Prolotherapy which I'm currently having done for back and leg pain. I'm optimistic now and feel as though I will eliminate my pain totally soon. I've eliminated a lot with Prolo already.

http://www.spine-health.com/forum/lower-back-pain/do-you-get-your-sacroi...

Good Luck and if I can help more ask away!

Hi, Mitch I am hoping you do get relief from your recent injections. I know I am due for a new ones also. I have had the SI Joint pain for some time now and almost had surgery but was canceled last min. due to change of insurance, kinda thankful in a way. For me it has been such a struggle finding a good orthopedic Dr. that does SI Joint, I go to a big University Hospital and the Spine clinic does not do SI for some reason.

But here is what i go threw and what I have learned in my experience in searching for treatment for My SI issues. I have found that PT has helped alot and I was only going for SI Joint nothing else cause like you it was too painful. Have you done PT for only SI? I think focusing on the tendon that supports the joint was a benefit. but i would have them do the ultrasound therapy for a bit before the the active part. There is a heating pad that is like a belt that i use alot, can make it tight or lose and works wonders over a tens unit, very long cord so can be used when cooking or dishes stuff like that. I got mine for $25.00.

I have found that besides the PT and injections there is little other treatment for SI Joints. A fusion is usually the only other resort. They can do a test to see how much movement there is before surgery. I had it done its an inpatient day surgery where the Dr puts you under and moves the joint himself to see how bad the joint is. The fusion I didnt have yet was gona be done on both sides and they go from front and back on both sides and put 2 large screws is what I was suppose to have. The surgery has a long healing process like most fusions.

But as for what I feel daily and thing I have learned not to do.

I never sit on hard surface cause it causes so much pain and when sleeping always have a pillow in between knees. And leaning forward is a no no cause it moves the joint to much so I always bend a knees. When mine are inflamed it feels like bee stings and like you sitting on cement, also laying down feels like someone is sitting on you.

Things that help is having an SI belt on I can feel such a different in pain when I have mine on. and using Ice therapy works good too. When mine are tight I lay on hard floor and relax then they usually pop back into place and feels better after, mine have been popping all the time now do your pop when you walk or sit or stand As I stated before having a tens unit on and then the heating pad on tight makes it feel good too. There is so many nerves in the SI Joints that a nerve med may be good for you not sure if you take any but there is a few Lyrica is a strong one and works well, same as topamax.

I do believe that the surgical treatment for SI Joints will improve in the near future to where they are not so invasive, I am trying to hold out for as long as I can praying for new technology, I hate fusions ..

Well hope some of this may help a bit. Take care and good luck on the new injections hope they will last the 6months or so they are suppose to...

Paula

Ozone, I will look into prolotherapy, it makes sense that something like this would work.

Paula, it sounds like you have a real mess with your si joint, along with other spine stuff. I'm like you in that if I sit on a hard surface, or make a movement that put stress on my si joint, the pain gets out of control. I tried the si belt once, but I have been told that I'm too big of a guy for it to really restrict my movements down to the point where it will help much. Let hope that in the near future they figure something out, other than fusing them.

Thanks again, and take care guys.

I too have suffered from SIJ pain for many years, usually having a bad episode after overdoing the raking or sweeping.
A visit to the chiro for a quick fix was all I needed.
But lately, it has changed. I now have a nagging soreness in the lower back and left SIJ area that does not get better after the chiro.
It doesn't stop me doing most things, but is especially sore when turning over in bed.
Wondering why the change, I arranged to see my physio.
After explaining it all, she had me do some tests to observe my flexibility, balance, spine curvature and so on.
She found that my lower spine was not bending at all, putting added strain on my lower back muscles.
She also found that my glutes, or butt muscles, were very weak. Normally these are used for walking, but in my case they were so weak that I was using my back muscles instead.
So the end result of these problems is that the lower spine, pelvis and associated muscles are all out of balance, which leads to my SIJ pain.
At my request she gave me some muscle strengthening exercises for the glutes, and that should see the SIJ pain disappear when the muscle strength is high enough to take over from the back muscles. As well, she gave me some spine bending routines. I'll report back in a month for a review.

She explained to me that the SIJ is a very firmly secured joint,quite difficult to move at all, and in my case at least is not responsible for the pain there.

So....anyone with SIJ pain would appear to be well advised to query their muscle strength in the glutes, as weak muscles may also be the cause of their SIJ pain.

Following a nerve block to the SI joint on both the right and left sides, a diagnosis of SI joint dysfunction was made in my case. The nerve block only worked for maybe 20-30 days. This was then followed by radio-frequency denervation of the nerves running through the SI joint. So they basically use a heating/cooling machine to prevent the nerves from being able to send pain signals to the brain. I have had 2 of these. The first one lasted about one year, the second procedure I had done about 2 years ago and have not yet needed a repeat. The eventual return of at least some pain is due to the fact that the nerves tend to regenerate. I have also been involved in physical therapy and am religious about doing my home exercise program. This is because, the RFA does not fix the underlying problem. It just gets you out of pain. For me, this gave me my life back. I would recommend asking your doctor about this. Best of luck to you!

Has any one every done the hesch method for hip and SI pain

I checked it out at youtube, it's some sort of manipulation that a PT does. I didn't watch much of it but I generally give manipulation a thumbs up.
Most people on this board are against manipulation so don't expect many positive replies.