If you have shooting back or buttock pain that travels down your leg, it could signal a sacroiliac joint injury or inflammation (sacroiliitis). At Innovative Pain Specialists in Arlington Heights and Libertyville, Illinois, board-certified pain management specialists Paul Marsiglia, DO, Demetrios Louis, MD, and their highly trained team offer sacroiliac joint fusions to alleviate discomfort and restore your quality of life. Call the nearest office to learn more or book an appointment online today.
Sacroiliac joint fusion is a minimally invasive surgery where your pain specialist makes a tiny incision and inserts titanium implants across your sacroiliac joint to offer stability. Sacroiliac joints connect your lower spine to your pelvis.
Common signs and symptoms of sacroiliac joint inflammation or other injuries include:
Complications with untreated sacroiliac injuries might include worsening pain, insomnia, and depression.
Sacroiliitis and other sacroiliac joint issues can happen to anyone, but common risk factors include:
You can’t always prevent sacroiliac pain, but adopting healthy habits can help. Maintain a healthy weight, eat nutritious foods, and get regular exercise.
To determine if you’re a candidate for sacroiliac joint fusion at Innovative Pain Specialists, your provider discusses your medical history, reviews your symptoms, checks your vital signs, and completes a physical exam.
They may also order blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, other imaging procedures, or aesthetic injections to diagnose your condition.
During sacroiliac joint fusion, your specialist provides general anesthesia to help you fall asleep. Under imaging guidance, they make a small incision near your lower back and place a bone graft and titanium implants across the sacroiliac joint to offer stability and stimulate bone growth. After the procedure, which usually lasts about 45 minutes, your specialist closes the incision.
After undergoing sacroiliac joint fusion, you may go home the same day or stay in a surgical center for a night or two. Your recovery plan often includes taking medications, getting plenty of rest, and undergoing physical therapy as needed. You can ice the treatment area or wear a pelvic brace if your surgeon recommends it. Full recovery might take 3-6 months.
To find out if you’re a candidate for sacroiliac joint fusion at Innovative Pain Specialists, call the nearest office or schedule an appointment online today.
