spinal vs general

[morph]

Yeah, the Si joint. That's what I'm working on at the minute because of lower back pain with amazing results. It is the joint which joins the lower back to the pelvis (sacrum, the triangle bit in the bottom of your back, to the illiac) with lots of ligaments. It naturally does not have much movement but It can get locked like a stiff draw. Chiropractors have techniques to jolt it back to position and movement, but there are simple gentle excercises which can do the job. Apparently this joint can affect leg length by up to a 1cm. All muscles around it need to be supple too so that it functions correctly.

It has not taken me long at all to correct my back, about a week but everyone is different. I started lying on the floor and placing ice pack under the small of the back for 5-10 minutes followd by a hot water bottle for the same followed by general back stretches, hip stretches and specific SI joint stretches.

Sorry if I sound a bit like a nerd with all this but I find it all utterly fascinating, the human body is amazing.

Putting on socks etc took me a while (about 3 months maybe). One day I just did it without thinking.

[cliff]

Great Info Morph, Thanks  8)

[lycraman]

As Morph say, we're all different.  I had 25 minute sessions with my physio once a month, working on the s-i joint pre-operatively and after each session I felt fantastic, so loose. At that stage I wasn't actually having back pain but whenever I do get back pain it is localised to exactly that joint.  Good luck with the treatment and let us know if you have success.

[cliff]

Some good news, I had my 6 week post -op today, I have not used a cane for 2 weeks and today the surgeon lifts all restrictions, still sore muscles but even those are coming along. Hoping to be able to tie my shoe before long as I am still a litlle tight at the bending stage but considering how painful it was and still is to a certain point but its a good pain if thats possible. I have 5 more PT sessions and hopefully some more good stretching and I will be to go. Thanks to all that I have communicated with and those that gave great advise, we are in this together and the support was wonderful.  Thank you

Cliff

[hernanu]

Great news Cliff! sounds like you're on your way.

[kamoynsgi]

Hi Cliff.  Sounds like your progress is perfectly normal.  There is no template for this, some things are easier than others, you will be able to do some things that others will stuggle with and vice versa.  It will all come together there is life after, Enjoy! Ka

[cliff]

Thanks Guys, latest update is that I was on the golf course today acutally hitting balls on the range. Tuesday will be 7 weeks post op. I would have never believed it at first but after the 4th week things started flying towards a positive note.

[cliff]

Today I went out and played my first round of Golf in 12 weeks, Tuesday I will be 10 weeks post-op. I have to say that I am feeling pretty damn good at this point even my golf partners are happy they no longer have to pick my ball out of the hole because I can bend to get them myself LOL. I really don't know why I waited 2 yrs to have this surgery, but anyone that is thinking about it don't wait long as you will find that the sooner the better, and a special thanks to this web site and all the friends that I have met on line, it makes the road to recovery so much easier.

[hernanu]

Really good, Cliff - glad you're getting back to what you like.

You still need to be careful to stay within the restrictions (if any) that your surgeon gave you, but you sound great.