SI Joint Pain...Frustrated.

[KnottedYet]

UPDATE:
Xrays show disc degeneration and bony changes (arthritic type) in the lumbar spine. MRI is next, and I have an appt w/ a neuro DR who is a cyclist on 5/17. I am not liking the sound of this....scared.

Don't be scared. Your xray sounds perfectly normal. Remember, the "standard" is a 20 year old male. If your spine doesn't look like a 20 year old male, you are degenerated.

Don't pay any attention.

If your problem required surgery, it would be giving you unremitting agony. As it is, you only have pain on the bike after 20 minutes and if you sit at work too long. If your symptoms are absent some of the time, then you just need to let the body heal so they can be absent all of the time.

(And you need to have someone with a PT background check your bike fit and biking posture.)

[daisylubob]

Don't be scared. Your xray sounds perfectly normal. Remember, the "standard" is a 20 year old male. If your spine doesn't look like a 20 year old male, you are degenerated.

Don't pay any attention.

If your problem required surgery, it would be giving you unremitting agony. As it is, you only have pain on the bike after 20 minutes and if you sit at work too long. If your symptoms are absent some of the time, then you just need to let the body heal so they can be absent all of the time.

(And you need to have someone with a PT background check your bike fit and biking posture.)

That is crazy to compare me to a 20 yo male. What is the point???? Anyway, I am degenerated

The symptoms of pain in the low back seem to be there more now, not just w/ sitting at work and on the bike. Feels like a constant,dull, sometimes crampy-like, annoying ache in the low back. Never sharp or take-your-breath-away stabbing sensation. It is at the spot where you put your hands to do a standing backbend, right where my middle and ring finger are on my back (did that make sense?).It does NOT hurt when I am in my bed sleeping, thankfully. I am so aware of that pain now, it has kind of taken over and I am obsessing about it
I see Sally again on Monday.
DH is going to attempt to modify my bikes a bit. Raise the bars w/ a headset extender on the road bike. Raise the bars w/ 2 more spacers on the mtb, and flip the stem over.
I also started taking Tissue Rejuvenator from Hammer, 4 caps am & 4 caps pm. Figured it would not hurt!

[daisylubob]

Saw Sally today. She thinks it may NOT be a disc now, due to:
1. little to no relief w/ the cobra maneuver.
2. I can walk and stand w/out a lot of increased pain.
3. Forward flex bothers me, whereas a disc problem the patient would get pain relief w/ forward flex.

She gave me a new exercise: Lay on L side, L leg straight, R leg bent up. Pull up on L arm so L shoulder is all twisted around. Lay that way for 5-10 mins.

We may also try oral steroids to see if it takes away the pain, if it does, then there is inflammatory stuff going on. But we still do not know the origin. MRI is Wednesday at 6am.

[nscrbug]

Saw Sally today. She thinks it may NOT be a disc now, due to:
1. little to no relief w/ the cobra maneuver.
2. I can walk and stand w/out a lot of increased pain.
3. Forward flex bothers me, whereas a disc problem the patient would get pain relief w/ forward flex.

She gave me a new exercise: Lay on L side, L leg straight, R leg bent up. Pull up on L arm so L shoulder is all twisted around. Lay that way for 5-10 mins.

We may also try oral steroids to see if it takes away the pain, if it does, then there is inflammatory stuff going on. But we still do not know the origin. MRI is Wednesday at 6am.

Hmmm...that's interesting. I was always under the impression that forward flexion increases pain in those with disc problems present...and that the cobra relieves pain. I have a totally different back condition called spondylolisthesis, which is a forward vertebral slippage. I'm actually NOT supposed to do any kind of back extension exercises (like the cobra) because it can cause further slippage and instability in my lower spine. But bending forward (such as leaning on a table or countertop, brings me instant relief.

Your upcoming MRI will pretty much indicate right away, whether or not your issue is disc-related or something else. Good luck and I hope you find some answers soon!

[KnottedYet]

It depends which way the disc is bulging. (forward, backward, or to the sides)

I have a disc that bulges forward and slightly sideways right now. Bending forward (forward flexion) pushes that darn disc back into place for me.

60% of disc problems are discs that are bulging backwards. Bending forward pushes the disc farther out of place for those folks.

What Sally has given you now is the "million dollar roll". It works for discs that are bulging out at a different angle (not straight back or straight to the side, for example) or that are bulging in multiple directions.

If you run into trouble with it, or if you feel it is making you worse, call Sally.

(ETA: 2 and 3 would be typical of a posterior derangement, 1 would be typical of a posterior-lateral relevant derangement. Lack of lasting relief from a cobra could indicate a disc that is blooping out backward and sideways at the same time. Sally will work you thorugh the steps of various movements until she has exhausted disc behaviour as a cause.)

[daisylubob]

I seem to be doing OK, stable for right now. This "million dollar roll" feels really good So it must be doig something! The MRI was done on Wed, and I am patiently awaiting the results.
I did the trainer for 30 mins on Wed, and will do 30 again today. Sunday, it is supposed to be a little nicer outside, so I may attempt an EASY 30-45 min road ride!

[daisylubob]

MRI shows 'diffuse annular bulge w/ L posterolateral disc protrusion L4-5 encroaching into the neural foramen on the L. THis appears to be effacing the exiting nerve root.'

Not the greatest news, but Sally kind of knew this anyway. I saw her today, as the million dollar roll did not really do any long-term improvement. She is perplexed, and calls me her 'challenge' I am to have DH push w/ heel of his hand on the L4 area, 10x twice a day. And go back to her in a week. Appt w/ neuro guy is 5/17. I have not read/ heard great things about steroid injections or oral steroids (wt gain, puffiness, emotional issues, etc). They also just take away the inflammation, and don't fix the problem. This is somewhat discouraging....

on the other hand....I did a road ride w/ DH on Sunday for 1:10, slow and easy. Stopped once to stretch, and I did not feel too bad