Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Treatment

The sacroiliac joints connect the sacrum (lower part of the spine) and the ilium (part of the pelvis), providing stability and transmitting forces between the upper body and the legs. You have two sacroiliac joints, one on each side of your body.

It’s not uncommon for people to have pain in their sacroiliac joints due to trauma, muscle weakness, inflammation, degeneration, and ligament strain or sprain. Up to 62% of patients with low back pain can have sacroiliac joint pain. If you have chronic SI joint pain, you may have been told you need surgery.

Some patients undergo SI joint fusion surgery and continue to have pain. If you are searching for alternatives to SI joint fusion in Ohio, Pain Zero can help. If you’ve had SI joint fusion and you still have pain, Pain Zero can help. We provide cutting-edge pain management alternatives to help people avoid invasive surgery and improve the quality of life of those who have gotten SI joint fusion surgery with minimal results.

Patients looking for alternatives to SI joint fusion in Ohio can benefit from seeking a comprehensive evaluation and consultation with Pain Zero. From injections, ablations, and wedge procedures - there are plenty of options. Whether you are looking to avoid surgery or seeking help for a failed surgery, our compassionate physicians can help you get the pain relief you need with techniques tailored to your unique condition.

In Office SI Joint Fusion

No anesthesia needed. We perform this procedure in the office and it provides immediate relief. Patients have little interruption to their daily activity and have a noticeable difference. A recent study showed the favorable approach has less complications and promising long term results. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38524688/

Epidural Steroid Injections and Trigger Point Injections

Injections such as epidural steroid injections and trigger point injections can help patients suffering from SI pain experience relief and are typically used as an initial approach to pain management. These injections may contain corticosteroids, anesthetics, and anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce pain and inflammation. Studies show that these injections can provide prolonged pain relief for patients with SI joint pain.

Kyphoplasty

If you have sacroiliac joint pain due to a vertical compression fracture, kyphoplasty can provide long-term relief. A kyphoplasty involves restoring the height of the compressed vertebrae to move it back into place. In one study, patients with SI joint pain from a vertical compression fracture who had a kyphoplasty saw an 80% reduction in their pain six months after the procedure.

Nerve Blocks

A nerve block is designed to disrupt pain signals that tell the brain the body is experiencing pain in a certain area. This form of treatment involves an injection into the area to block nerve signals, hence its name. If a nerve block is successful in reducing pain, radiofrequency ablation may be considered as the next step to provide long-term relief.

Pain Pump or IV Infusions

In some cases, a pain pump or intravenous pain medications may be an effective treatment for continuing or severe SI joint pain. Using a pain pump or an IV to administer pain medication means patients will not have to experience the common side effects of taking these medications orally, such as drowsiness, constipation, and nausea, providing a more sustainable alternative to oral pain medication.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that involves damaging the nerves that are responsible for pain sensations in the affected area. Research shows that patients with SI joint pain can benefit from radiofrequency ablation if nerve blocks are successful at reducing pain and that the procedure can provide significant pain reduction even nine months after the procedure.

Neuromodulation

Neuromodulation can include spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation that helps prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. In this procedure, a small device delivers low electrical signals that stop the nerves from communicating pain. These devices can also provide small doses of pain medication to the affected area and reduce SI joint pain.

As with any surgery, complications can result from SI joint fusion. These complications may include:

• Pain that has not improved or worsened since the procedure, including lower back, hip, or pelvis pain and stiffness.

• Failure to fuse, meaning the bones of the sacrum and ilium do not properly fuse together, resulting in instability and pain.

• Adjacent segment disease, in which the immobility of the fused discs causes adjacent discs to degenerate faster.

There are many factors that can influence continuing pain after an SI joint fusion. Some patients may also have sacroiliac joint pain that results from a previous spinal surgery. For example, a lumbar fusion can cause the SI joints to degenerate , leading to pain and compromised mobility.

You may qualify for SI joint fusion alternatives if you have discomfort that has not improved with conservative approaches such as physical therapy or medication. Patients who are not candidates for SI joint fusion surgery can also benefit from alternative pain management approaches.

Patients who have had SI joint fusion and continue to experience pain or discomfort also typically qualify for alternative treatments. In some cases, patients who have had this surgery have pain that was not originating from the SI joints, making proper diagnosis and pain management essential.