Sacroilitis, Bilateral facet disaease

I am n the Marines and i have been doing physical therapy for my condition for about 4  months now and its not doing anything. My pain feels like its getting worse. i have had x-rays 1 MRI 1 bone scan nothing excep mild buldging. That was it/ Then on my bone scan it said radiotracer uptake in the rihgt sacroiliac joint which may represent mild sacroilitis also L5-S1 There is a mild annular bulge with bilateral intra-articular facet disease. Exit tone appear to remain adequately  bilatteraly at this level.

L4-5 There is minimal bilateral facet disease. otherwiose space appears unremarkable.



Im am so confused and do not understand at all the this disease is called or how it happens or any treatment. If so could you explain to me what it is???              
              Please and THank you

[kfp4387]

Facet disease has lots of other names but it basically is arthritis in the articulating surfaces of your spine.  It is caused from overuse injury mostly, especially from extension.  The only way to truly diagnose to see if this is what is causing pain is to do a facet block.  They basically numb the nerves in the area and if your pain improves then thats where you are hurting from.  If that is a sucess they can perform a facet neurotomy or sometimes called facet rhizotomy where they go in and burn the nerves which can keep you pain free for 6 months to a year.  I am getting this procedure done in a month, so I can't wait to not hurt.  They can only do one side at a time though, so you have to decide which side hurts worse, lol.

[dmjames]

Look into piriformis syndrome online. THis may be your problem and there is a surgery.
Just read about it and see if it sounds like you.
Good luck.
Denise

[darnback]

I found that physical therapy accomplished little,  but exercise, especially walking or running UPHILL helped immensely.  Walk or run hills, or set your treadmill to an uphill setting, the higher the better.  An eliptical exercise machine set to a high resistance will accomplish the same thing.  USE IT OR LOSE IT is the key.  The less I exercise, the worse I do.  Try this...

Also, I find that rather than taking an antiinflammatory on a regular basis, taking a large dose of Motrin (600 to 800 mg) ONCE during a flare-up, or one big dose every couple of days during a flare-up, works best.  That way, I am far less likely to suffer the side effects of regular usage of the antiinflammatories.