Paul Saiz, MD, is the only fellowship-trained spine and tumor surgeon in New Mexico. As the owner of Las Cruces Orthopedic Associates in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Dr. Paul Saiz is a highly respected orthopedic spine surgeon, having earned many faculty nominations and recognition for his articles on topics pertaining to back and neck conditions, such as sacroiliac (SI) joint pain.
Responsible for transforming weight back and forth from the legs to the lower back, the sacroiliac (SI) joint has often been overlooked due to the fact that, for many years, there was a lack of information on how the SI joint can cause pain. Presently, the SI joint is recognized as as a potential pain generator in regards to lower back pain. For chronic pain originating in the SI joint, surgery is a valid treatment option. Today’s minimally invasive surgery treats the lumber spine and SI joint with a combination of technology and tissue sparing techniques, reducing recovery time to outpatient surgery or 1-2 days as an inpatient. However, not all insurance plans will pay for these surgeries to be done as an outpatient. In addition, how healthy patients are can determine whether a procedure can be done as an inpatient or outpatient.