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Sacroiliac pain and back injections

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Posted 5/31/2013 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had relief from back injections for pain in the sacroiliac?
I'm about to have an injection for my sacroiliac pain - MRI and back x-ray show no disc problems, no nerve problems. The injection is cortisone and I believe xylocaine. For 3 months I have not been able to sit down, stand in one spot, etc. I get up and move around but the pain puts me back lying down.

Physical therapy brought more pain, the anti-depressant/ pain management medication backfired and I am apparently the less than 1% of older than 25 years old (62) that had suicidal thoughts and impulses as well as this serotonin reaction - bulgy dilated eyes, shaking hands and jaw, worsening depression, etc. It looks to me if I check online, that all the other anti-depressant/pain management medications have the same possible side effect (some without the serotonin), Needless to say, not sleeping. Again, what I've seen posted here and elsewhere indicates that the aids for sleep used successfuly by some, have the same side effect.
Using percocet I got vertigo.

I may have IBS or other as I also had colon pain accompanying the back pain and after a colonoscopy lost 25 pounds and have had trouble keeping the calories up with only veg, hi fiber, gluten-free diet, brown rice, chicken, etc. but that seems like a post for another day. I just got carried away since this forum knows what I might be talking about versus the various doctors that are treating the isolated issues.

Well, there you have it. The question again, has anyone found relief from this type of injection?
Posted 5/31/2013 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Community, and welcome! I have sacroiliitis and was given ibuprofen with food and a muscle relaxer. Now I'm not having all the back pain and pain down my legs. This might be something to ask about.

I hope you get some answers. I know how miserable that pain can be. Do let us know what you do.

Sherrine
Posted 5/31/2013 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there, Community.

I do have disc problems...when one ruptured last year (L4-L5), I had 2 injections. They did nothing, or very nearly nothing, so I had to have surgery.

When you do this, I hope you'll have some kind of anesthesia. I didn't, and it was horrible! Never again, not like that.

I really hope the injection works for you, especially since you have such a bad reaction to the usual meds. Keep us posted!

Debbie
Posted 5/31/2013 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
My CT scan was in conclusive, it really depends on how the doctors interpret it, they do agree there could be a pinched nerve on L4-5 area on the right.

I've had facet joint injections done on that are 2x to various degrees of success.
I've had a rhizotomy to my L4,5 and S1, again to some degree of success.

I frequently go to my GP to get trigger point injection, I would normally get like 20mg of lignocaine + glucose injected into the trigger points starting from the sacroiliac join down to the thigh muscles, again, this technique is not 100% successful, at least I get some relieve while the lignocaine is still in my system.
Posted 6/1/2013 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
I have sacrolilliac dysfunction. I went from being in pain non-stop and unable to stand for 10 seconds without intense pain, and unable to sit still from the nagging pain (for months and months), to virtually no pain at all.

I also showed nothing abnormal on my X-ray's etc.. (no disk problems). I was thinking, "how can I be in such intense pain and yet nothing shows up on any test? Why can't anyone help me. I'm in Baltimore the cream of the crop of the health care community and no one has any answers!" Luckily I had the internet. :)

I saw a specialist who is one of the leading experts in correcting the prevalent low back pain issue of the sacroilliac joint in cases of hyper-mobility. I traveled from Baltimore Maryland (U.S.) to Georgia to see her for a week, because I was desperate, and she was most knowledgeable on this specific issue which many practitioners are not knowledgeable enough on. She did not immediately fix it, but she worked with me each week and taught me how to start in the right direction.

Do you know any of the exercises to put your sacroiliac back into correct alignment? Misalignment is what causes most the pain in the majority of cases. (although other back conditions may overlap) From what I understand, after the tail bone and pelvis slip out of joint and "lock" out of alignment, the surrounding muscles have to compensate for the misalignment and flare up to hold the body in place. If one can keep themselves in correct alignment for a long enough time, the muscles will then begin to relax, and pain will subside. The issue is the the ligaments are too stretched out and "loosey-goosey" which causes the hyper-mobility of the joint. They can also heal back into place some when alignment is kept.

This kind of pain is a pain on one or both sides of the low back above the butt.. sometimes in the butt.. sometimes down the leg.. sometimes up the spine.. but mostly centered in the low back. This kind of pain does not go away when one is stationary. You know its a sacro illiac joint dysfunction when no position is a comfortable position (which differs from disk issues, from what I understand)

For me, its important that I never lift anything too heavy. I'm petite, so that means I really have a low limit of what I can carry. I have to be super strict. This is most important for preventing a sacroilliac low back flare. I also have to be careful about how I bend. And I may never jump, jog, hop, or I will surely go into misalignment. Even one jump can do it. Sometimes if I stretch the wrong way, even with my upper body, I'll throw myself out of alignment. But knowing what I can and can't do helps.. along with staying mobile and active in very light activity.

For extreme cases, the treatment center I visited also does a surgery where they inject a chemical irritant into the stretched ligaments of the sacroilliac joint (while its in alignment) which is supposed to help the ligaments heal into place and shorten, or something along those lines. I did lots of reading on this in my desperation years ago.

I know many people have been helped from the lady I saw. People from around the world travel to see her.

I know you are asking about the injections, but I wanted to add that info just in case it could be helpful.
I hope you feel better soon. Low back pain can be so distracting!
Posted 6/1/2013 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Community,

I'm no expert as I am battling with my own issues...but I'm getting my Masters in Dietetics and Nutrition next year after 4 years of intense study as well as having consulted with every specialist and every holistic doctor you can think of. My suggestions for you are the following:

1. Stay with gluten-free/dairy-free...there are lots of studies showing that these two are hard to tolerate and I would think that goes double for those with Fibro.
2. Do a mega detox (your diet, your personal care products, and even your environment). If you take care of these 3, you should see some improvement within a month.
3. Make sure to keep good posture at all times....or as much as you can tolerate.

Why do I believe these things will benefit you? Because I've had some personal experience and have heard the same from others. One of the reasons I believe I usually recover quicker from pain is that I don't put anything on my body that has questionable chemicals in it. I've been using 100% natural (sometimes homemade) products on my body for about a year now. I always check the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website first for toxicity levels before buying a product. So that is one thing I can control..next I look around my house. Air freshners? out! Bleach? Plastic bottles? out! You get the idea...

I'm even considering doing a comprehensive urine/blood test that tests accumulation of pesticides, benzenes, heavy metals in your body. That test is very expensive...but I'd do anything to free myself of chronic pain. I'm not saying these seemingly drastic measures will cure us, but something is keeping us this way and it can only help if we reduce toxins in our bodies...that way our body can focus on healing our tissues instead of dealing with the toxins. It just makes sense to me. I hope this helps.

-Liz
Posted 6/1/2013 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
BTW- CharmCityLady...I've been having issues with the Sacroilliac as well and you are correct about the misalignment stuff. I get better when adjusted but then it goes again...this on top of 2 months of physical therapy for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome as well! So when my upper body feels better, my lower body hurts and vice versa...sometimes both! I'm glad to hear your magic lady is in GA...my sister lives there so it wouldnt be too difficult to see her if my doctors and therapists cant get it right. But so far they are addressing it as a misalignment...lets see how it goes.
Posted 6/1/2013 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your posts. It is all food for thought.

I'm curious, CharmCityLady, how you got yourself to Georgia. I have thought about traveling to specialists and can't figure out how, since I can't sit without severe pain. Also wondering how you found out hyper-mobility was the issue?

Also, Liz574, I do think I may have had a toxic exposure using bleach when this all began. Do you have recommendations for the detox issues? I've been having difficulties with colon, bowel, digestion, etc. and am reluctant to do anything too drastic since things have settled down in that area somewhat. Thank you for your ideas.
Posted 6/1/2013 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Also, CharmCityLady, are you able to name this specialist? or is that not allowed on this forum?
Posted 6/1/2013 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
At the time of my initial injury to my low back ligaments (which does not show on X-rays or any test), I was working in childcare and did heavy lifting all day long. What really threw me over was pushing this cart that carried 4 kids at once up a hill. After that, my low back joint was completely thrown out of place. It felt weird to walk, even, as if my whole body's posture was off kilter. (Keep in mind I am very short, 4 foot 10, so I'm petite)

I was in such intense pain for 6 months. I started doing all the tests and saw all the back specialists. I already suspected Sacroilliac joint dysfunction from all the internet research I'd done, but I wanted to get confirmation. Finally, at the end of one of my appointments here in Baltimore, a spine specialist thought my pain might be related to Sacroiliac and suggested physical therapy. Only, none of the physical therapists in my area are experts, and tried some things, but not really helpful. So after reading a book from the Georgia physical therapist expert, I decided to drive all the way down to Georgia with my boyfriend. I stayed in a motel for a week. The car ride was painful, but the hope of having an expert in the field look at me was worth the pain. We made it like a vacation, and after physical therapy, I'd do my best to travel around and enjoy myself as much as possible.

(Mods, I'm not sure I can share this.. hopefully I can share some or all of it)

If you google "Sacroilliac Joint Dysfuntion in Gainesville Georgia", you will find the practices that specialize in it. There are two. I went to the one where I could get an appointment with the expert herself.

The name of the book to give you more info about the disorder, written by the expert herself, is "The secret cause of low back pain, and how to end your suffering"

The prominent expert in the field of sacro illiac joint dysfuntion is Vicki Sims.

She is the one I saw.

First, they identify which way your sacro illiac joint is out of place. It can be upslip, downslip, right and left. They can figure this by looking at your leg length, the subtle discrepancies in the direction your legs face, and feeling the tailbone position in your back. Then, using this information, they will adjust you back into place with various movements and exercises. After that, they'll teach you (or a partner) how to have a partner put you back into correct position. And then, they'll teach you how to put yourself back into correct position on your own. It can take time, but over the course of repeating each day, it helps.

I think what is most helpful is learning what NOT to do to get your joint out of place. Prevention is key.

I'm so glad I used the therapies created in this system. I was feeling so despondent at the time, and felt like I'd never be out of pain again. I'm so grateful. I can even go salsa dancing again! :D


I learned about hyper mobility of the joint from reading and from speaking with the expert. The reason most doctors don't know how to fix low back pain, is because they assume it must be a disk issue, or something else having to do with the spine. Failed back surgeries for pain stemming from the low back are often a result of a sacroilliac problem, which does not show up on tests. What happens is that the ligaments that connect the tail bone to the ilia (or pelvis) become too stretched and lax, causing instability in this very important joint. Having your back subtly thrown out of position will make everything else off kilter. I'm surprised more docs are not aware of these issues, as the problem is very prominent.

My issue was so bad that I could hear bones clicking and cracking in my low back every time I took a step forward with one step. The docs in Baltimore couldn't find anything, but I KNEW something was dramatically different if I heard a loud pop each time I took a step. Not all people hear the pop with Sacroiliac Joint problems, but I did.

Good luck in whatever therapies you decide to take. Hopefully you find some solutions that were get your feeling better soon!
Posted 6/2/2013 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Community, my best recommendations for you are the following:

1. Brenda Watson, detox expert. Her RENEW LIFE products are effective and reputable: 
(Lots of products specifically for women with fibro-like symptoms)

2. The Repairvite Program (my chiropractic neurologist recommended this):
 
Hope this helps! BTW- I should be doing the repairvite...I've heard it works very well. But I'm still not brave enough. Its a huge commitment..so Renew Life is something you can do two weeks at a time, targeting different organs at a time.

Let me know if you decide to try any of those. I'd love to know how it goes for you.

-Liz

Liz, I took out the links because they both go to websites where someone is selling and/or promoting something.  This goes against the forum rules.  Thanks for understanding.

Debbie

 

Post Edited By Moderator (Acheybody) : 6/1/2013 10:28:50 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/2/2013 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Many thanks, CharmCityLady and Liz574 as well as the Moderator for clarifying what can be shared.
Also to Sherrine, AcheyBody and Fibro$sufferer. Your experiences and suggestions are helpful to know.
Posted 6/2/2013 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Community,

I had sacroiliac pain for a few years that made it very painful for me to stand. This was around the time I first went to see a chiropractor. He took care of it with a few adjustments, I haven't had pain in that area since.
Posted 6/2/2013 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Of course, Community. That's what we're here for - mutual support.

Again, best of luck with that injection. And please do keep posting!

Debbie
Posted 6/6/2013 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
No problem Debbie...sorry about that. I just wanted Community to be able to read up on those products from the official websites. Not trying to promote anything...just wanted to let her know there are good products out there that can help her achieve her goals.
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