Discussion Topic
Hi Everyone!
Posted on 06/14/09, 05:40 pm
Hi all,
I hope everyone is doing OK. There are some I haven't heard from in a while, and I hope it's because you're out there living life to the fullest and getting proper treatment.......not because your pelvic instability is getting worse or has you all depressed. As you can see, we now have 9 members! Yay! I'm glad you guys found this group! There have been some who have reached out to me for advice, and I really hope that you've taken it. There are others who've joined and are just kind of floating around DS I guess. Long story short, how are you ladies doing??? Anything I can help with??? Please, let me know!
Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am cured of my pelvic instability woes after 1 year of prolotherapy/platelet rich plasma therapy and some physical therapy to help strengthen/stretch all of the muscles in my core and legs that got majorly screwed up as a result of my horrible battle with pelvic instability. I am still getting some prolotherapy to strengthen my patellar tendon (in my right knee), which became very weak as a result of my altered gait when my pelvis was just barely hanging together.
I was chatting with my doctor's PA at my last knee appointment and she gave me some interesting info that I wanted to share with you. Keep in mind that my MD is a physiatrist (no, not a psychiatrist) who specializes in prolotherapy/platelet rich plasma therapy (and soon stem cell therapy!) for pelvic instability. So he's seen it all. According to the PA, the average time they've noted from the onset of pelvic instability symptoms to an actual diagnosis of pelvic instability (usually from my Dr) is 2 years! 2 YEARS! What a horribly underdiagnosed condition! Did you know some doctors (usually orthopedists) STILL, in this day and age, believe that the sacroiliac joints don't move???? WOW. I lived in pure hell for months with this condition......it got so bad I could barely walk to the bathroom. I cannot imagine living 2 years with the hell that is severe pelvic instability. But that's not even the worst thing she told me. Often times, when someone complains of lower back pain, the first thing their doctor will order is an MRI which is fine, but heaven forbid the MRI shows some sort of abnormality (mine didn't.) Some doctors forget that (1) in almost half of all cases where individuals have abnormal MRI results, they remain totally asymptomatic, and (2) MRI results are a tool, to be carefully correlated with a person's symptoms - not a magic 8 ball to decide whether surgery is indicated. So........the pelvic instability patient is told that their symptoms are being caused by whatever popped up on their MRI and they must have some sort of surgery (laminectomy usually) to correct the problem. Of course, surgery does not correct the problem, because the problem was improperly diagnosed, AND their bodies have been cut on and altered. Sometimes, since the problem hasn't resolved, further surgery is recommended.....possibly a fusion! This is where the trouble truly starts. Anytime you fuse a portion of the spine, you eliminate that portion's ability to move, causing adjacent segments of the spine and/or sacroiliac joints, pubis, and hips to move too much and in unnatural ways. Then more spinal problems appear, causing further surgeries and a lifetime of horrible pain, disability, surgery, and depression.....all the while their ACTUAL PROBLEM (pelvic instability) was never addressed and was aggravated even more! It's at this point that some patients come see my doctor and are diagnosed with pelvic instability. They can begin treatment, but by this point their body has been permanently altered, and full recovery and natural movement can never be restored. Individuals are usually extremely disabled at this point and symptom control will be a part of their lives forever. It's heartbreaking!
Anyway, I just thought I would share with you how under-recognized pelvic instability is......despite it's very disabling and painful nature. That's why it's so important that doctors learn how to recognize and properly treat this condition and that patients learn where to go and what to do to come back from this condition. Again, I hope everyone is ok and that you're having a great summer! Would love to hear from you!
With lots of caring,
Orchid
I hope everyone is doing OK. There are some I haven't heard from in a while, and I hope it's because you're out there living life to the fullest and getting proper treatment.......not because your pelvic instability is getting worse or has you all depressed. As you can see, we now have 9 members! Yay! I'm glad you guys found this group! There have been some who have reached out to me for advice, and I really hope that you've taken it. There are others who've joined and are just kind of floating around DS I guess. Long story short, how are you ladies doing??? Anything I can help with??? Please, let me know!
Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am cured of my pelvic instability woes after 1 year of prolotherapy/platelet rich plasma therapy and some physical therapy to help strengthen/stretch all of the muscles in my core and legs that got majorly screwed up as a result of my horrible battle with pelvic instability. I am still getting some prolotherapy to strengthen my patellar tendon (in my right knee), which became very weak as a result of my altered gait when my pelvis was just barely hanging together.
I was chatting with my doctor's PA at my last knee appointment and she gave me some interesting info that I wanted to share with you. Keep in mind that my MD is a physiatrist (no, not a psychiatrist) who specializes in prolotherapy/platelet rich plasma therapy (and soon stem cell therapy!) for pelvic instability. So he's seen it all. According to the PA, the average time they've noted from the onset of pelvic instability symptoms to an actual diagnosis of pelvic instability (usually from my Dr) is 2 years! 2 YEARS! What a horribly underdiagnosed condition! Did you know some doctors (usually orthopedists) STILL, in this day and age, believe that the sacroiliac joints don't move???? WOW. I lived in pure hell for months with this condition......it got so bad I could barely walk to the bathroom. I cannot imagine living 2 years with the hell that is severe pelvic instability. But that's not even the worst thing she told me. Often times, when someone complains of lower back pain, the first thing their doctor will order is an MRI which is fine, but heaven forbid the MRI shows some sort of abnormality (mine didn't.) Some doctors forget that (1) in almost half of all cases where individuals have abnormal MRI results, they remain totally asymptomatic, and (2) MRI results are a tool, to be carefully correlated with a person's symptoms - not a magic 8 ball to decide whether surgery is indicated. So........the pelvic instability patient is told that their symptoms are being caused by whatever popped up on their MRI and they must have some sort of surgery (laminectomy usually) to correct the problem. Of course, surgery does not correct the problem, because the problem was improperly diagnosed, AND their bodies have been cut on and altered. Sometimes, since the problem hasn't resolved, further surgery is recommended.....possibly a fusion! This is where the trouble truly starts. Anytime you fuse a portion of the spine, you eliminate that portion's ability to move, causing adjacent segments of the spine and/or sacroiliac joints, pubis, and hips to move too much and in unnatural ways. Then more spinal problems appear, causing further surgeries and a lifetime of horrible pain, disability, surgery, and depression.....all the while their ACTUAL PROBLEM (pelvic instability) was never addressed and was aggravated even more! It's at this point that some patients come see my doctor and are diagnosed with pelvic instability. They can begin treatment, but by this point their body has been permanently altered, and full recovery and natural movement can never be restored. Individuals are usually extremely disabled at this point and symptom control will be a part of their lives forever. It's heartbreaking!
Anyway, I just thought I would share with you how under-recognized pelvic instability is......despite it's very disabling and painful nature. That's why it's so important that doctors learn how to recognize and properly treat this condition and that patients learn where to go and what to do to come back from this condition. Again, I hope everyone is ok and that you're having a great summer! Would love to hear from you!
With lots of caring,
Orchid
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Welcome! This group is for those of us suffering from musculoskeletal pain resulting from an instability in components of the pelvis, including the sacroiliac joints, pubic symphysis, or hips. This can be caused by trauma to the bones or soft tissues of the pelvis, hormonal changes, or hypermobility of the joints of the pelvis. Pelvic instability can be acute or chronic. It can be mildly irritating or extremely painful and debilitating. Whatever your situation, you're in the right place
