If you have been plagued by sacroiliac joint discomfort and you’ve been unable to find adequate relief through conservative methods, your specialist may recommend an SI joint fusion procedure. In this procedure, a bone graft or surgical hardware is inserted to fuse the sacrum to the hip bone, stabilize the area and eliminate the motion that is causing pain. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the standard recovery timeline after SI joint fusion, and we share some tips for making your recovery a little easier following the operation.
SI Joint Fusion Recovery Timeline
Your specific recovery timeline may vary a bit, so your experience may differ a little from the standard timeline. In most instances, the patient will be able to go home on the same day of surgery or after a one night stay in the recovery center. Your hip area is in a weakened state following the procedure, and in order to provide an adequate recovery space, you will not be able to bear full weight on the leg for 3-4 weeks after surgery. During this time, you will be asked to use a cane, walker or similar assistive device to get around.
You will experience some pain and discomfort during this period, but most patients are given some medications to help with this pain during the early stages of your recovery. Discomfort tends to lessen as you get further away from your surgery date, but you can talk to your surgeon if pain levels do not begin to improve after a week or two. Assuming everything progresses as expected at your follow-up appointments, you should be cleared to return to normal activities within 6-12 weeks, although complete bone fusion typically takes about six months, so some activities may still be restricted until fusion is complete.
Speeding Up Your Recovery
There’s not much you can do to speed up the bone fusion process, but there are steps you’ll want to take to provide an ideal environment for recovery. Taking certain steps during recovery can also help to improve your physical function as you progress through your rehab. It’s not enough to just allow six months of healing to take place after your surgery, you also need to strengthen the area so that the hip and the supporting muscles can function as needed given the structural changes in the area. Some ways to improve your physical function over the course of those six months include:
- Ice/Heat – As we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, ice and heat can help to control swelling or bring healthy blood to an area following an injury or surgery. Use ice and heat to manage discomfort and control swelling in the first few days and weeks after your operation as recommended by your surgeon.
- Physical Therapy – Physical therapy will be the most helpful part of your rehabilitation, as you’ll use these exercises to reestablish strength, stability, balance and range of motion in the area following your operation. You can expect to perform months of physical therapy exercises both in a clinic setting and from the comfort of your home to get the most out of your PT sessions.
- Restriction Adherence – Sometimes the best thing you can do for your recovering body is to mind the restrictions that have been put in place. You will not be full weight bearing for almost a month after your procedure, so don’t try to put your full weight through your leg. Also mind your activity restrictions as you begin to get cleared for more activities.
- Diet – We don’t expect you to eat perfectly and lose weight at a time when you have limited mobility, but at the same time, a poor diet can lead to weight gain, especially because you won’t be as active as normal during your recovery. Mind your diet and drink plenty of water to avoid weight gain and to help improve your circulation.
If you really dive into a physical therapy routine and you keep the other tips on this list in mind, we’re confident that you will experience a strong recovery from your SI joint fusion procedure. For more information, or to talk to Dr. Jackman about a neck or spinal issue that has been bugging you, reach out to his office today at (651) 430-3800.
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