SIJ Fusion for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Interventional Pain Medicine in Knoxville, TN
The sacroiliac joints in your pelvis have limited movement, but they can cause disabling pain if they stop working. Talk to the Pain Medicine of the South team in Knoxville, Tennessee, if you suffer from lower back pain and limited mobility caused by your sacroiliac joints. The team performs SIJ fusion for sacroiliac joint dysfunction using the cutting-edge Sacrix Sacrofuse® system. Call Pain Medicine of the South today or make an appointment via the online booking form.
SIJ fusion for sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a cutting-edge approach to resolving chronic lower back and pelvic pain.
The sacroiliac joints (SIJs) are in your pelvis. They connect the ilium (hip bones) to a triangular bone (sacrum) that sits between the lumbar (lower spine) vertebrae and the coccyx (tailbone).
The SIJ doesn’t move very much but is flexible enough to absorb shock from the upper body and legs. If the joint stiffens or inflammation sets in, it can cause pain and movement difficulties.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can develop for several reasons, including using the joints too much or too little.
Pregnancy and childbirth cause pelvic changes that increase the likelihood of SI joint pain.
Patients also have an increased risk of sacroiliac joint dysfunction after lumbar spinal fusion.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can cause significant lower back, pelvic, groin, and/or hip pain. Conservative treatments like activity modification, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications or injections often relieve pain and stiffness but don’t work for everyone.
The Pain Medicine of the South team might recommend SIJ fusion for sacroiliac joint dysfunction if your symptoms cause significant distress and don’t improve after conservative care.
Pain Medicine of the South uses the Sacrix Sacrofuse system to perform SIJ fusion for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. This advanced procedure is an outpatient Less Exposure Surgery (LES®) technique that minimizes patients’ pain and downtime.
The Sacrix technique requires an incision that’s often under one inch long. It avoids the gluteal (buttock) muscles and blood vessels by entering the lower back just above the buttock.
The team uses diagnostic imaging like X-rays to view the interior of your pelvis and plan the implant placement. The implants resemble screws with channels that stimulate bone regeneration. The faster the SI joints fuse, the quicker you recover, and Sacrofuse has multiple features that promote speedy, solid fusion.
You should be able to go home the same day. After eight weeks of gentle exercise, the joints should fuse, and you can enjoy your usual activities.
Call Pain Medicine of the South to discover if you could benefit from SIJ fusion for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. You can also book an appointment online today.