Sacral pain - is it torsion/SIJD?

[Violet M]

That's great that you were able to get an appointment, Birdlife. Sometimes the waiting for appointments around here gives a whole new meaning to the word "patient" but I'm glad you were able to get in sooner than expected.

[birdlife]

Thanks, Violet and Laura .. yes, when the surgery faxed it through again as urgent they certainly treated it as such! What I need to find out now is whether the Bristol team will accept the National's PN findings without paperwork to back it up. Don't forget that though Dr.Curran wrote to my GP informing him of my diagnosis, Dr.B himself never got round to sending a consultant-to-GP letter advising him of the double blocks I underwent ). I really don't want to start again from the beginning! It will be a 3hr trek one way to Bristol, so I'd best check with the secretary beforehand how long I need to be down there.
My osteopath appointment in London on friday went well. 45mins tube journey and no climbing of any stairs en route, so a huge help. She did piriformis and quadricep massage, stretches, and joint manipulation, and her verdict is that there is movement in my SI joint but she wants to treat the whole picture as my core muscles need a lot of strengthening. She said 4yrs of chronic pain and tightness will take a while to sort, but she thinks it can be done. Shame it has to be done with someone else then as the Groupon deal is only 3 sessions! .

[calluna]

Hi Birdlife - good to hear that you are going to see Dr G. I had 10 weeks wait to see him in April last year. In my case he did not do any tests or examine me but referred me straight to the surgeon.

How long you'll need to be there - bit hard to predict, probably. The clinic waiting room (in the Macmillan Building if memory serves) was quite full when I was there, I think we waited about 45 min, the actual time with Dr G was around 20 - 25 minutes I think. We parked in the main carpark and walked through, it is not far, but then discovered that there is a small disabled carpark much closer, so if you've got a blue badge that's useful. Oh yes and parking is free if you have a blue badge, as well, wherever you park. By the way, when driving to the hospital, do not follow the signs at the roundabout/painted on the road that say Frenchay - we did this and got somewhat confused, you get there in the end but it is definitely the scenic route - instead, follow the directions in the leaflet that comes with the appointment letter and you'll go straight there.

Glad the osteo is going well!

[birdlife]

Thankyou for that info, Calluna. The confirmation of appointment letter that arrived this morning says Dr.G. hasn't yet read my GP referral letter and things may change once he has . Hope not!
I might go by train as advance tickets are only £10 instead of the usual ridiculous prices in the hundreds. Let the train take the strain, as the advert says. Also a beautifully scenic route over the aqueducts at Bath.
Am looking forward to next osteo appointment. I can now move my waist (always handy ) but buttocks, piriformis and legs are starting to seize up again.

[Annsijdvictory]

Hello, please forgive me for snooping in. I found this thread from a google search, and couldn't resist sharing my experience with the sacral wedgy. I have battled (and I am winning) with severe si joint dysfunction due to hyper mobility from post pregnancy after the birth of my 2 kids. The Botox doesn't work, thepiriformis treatments don't work. My 6 year journey finally paid off when I began working with a manual manipulation, hands on physical therapist who could help gently realign my pelvis for long enough to go get PROLOTHERAPY days later. The PROLOTHERAPY has healed me. Permanantly. The root cause of all the low back and pelvis problems is si joint trouble shooting.The good exercises have retrained my muscles. The sacral wedge is my daily upkeep. It pushes my sacrum anteriorly into position. I use the male version because it is more narrow and fits my petite frame. Get one. It will help you to massage that fluid and swelling out of the joint so that it will resume position. Go to the serial website also, and get an si belt. Please let me know if I can help you more. You can be healed. Don't lose hope. God bless you all in your discoveries!

[Violet M]

Ann, thanks for sharing your success story. What is the serial website?

Violet

[birdlife]

Hi Ann, many thanks for the info. .
I'll likely try the non-invasive route first, but the prolo is a really interesting option if/when all else fails. I do now have the sacrowedgy, I'm small too but have the female version. Can you advise which exercises retrained your muscles best re your SIJD. I've got a set of 6 starter exercises from the osteopath, she did gentle manual joint manipulation which helped straight away. But 2 of the exercises (knee to chest buttock stretches) have made the perineal burning from the pudendal nerve worse after just one session .. and the other 4 stretches for hip adductors, glutes, pelvic tilt and lower trunk rotation have left me a lot stiffer, hope that's temporary. Personally I think that triggerpoints in all these muscles need to be worked thoroughly before stretches are attempted. Thanks again Ann, will certainly keep the prolo info in mind.
,

[birdlife]

Update:
Went for 2nd osteo appointment today, with a more senior osteo. The senior guy said to stop the exercises I'd been given at the previous appointment as at the moment exercising could just worsen the existing problems, but then he proceeded with some quite agressive joint manipulation .. .. "because both SI joints are very stiff". Well, they're a damn sight more stiff now! I was okay at the time, but boy are my hips hot and hurting now - both of them. My sit pain is different too, more rectal than it ever usually is. Jeez, you go for help and come back worse. Can only hope it will all die down by the morning. Taken some painkillers

[Lernica]

Hugs, Birdlife. Hope you got through the night okay. Strong meds are very helpful when you need them, eh? Hope the flare doesn't last too long.

[Violet M]

Ouch, Birdlife! Hope you feel better soon!

Hugs,

Violet