Sacroiliac Joint Pain
What is sacroiliac joint pain?
The Sacroiliac Joint is located near the spine’s bottom part (above the tailbone and below the lumbar spine). It still isn’t absolutely clear as to what causes sacroiliac joint pain but changes in the standard joint motion might be the culprit behind this condition.
What causes sacroiliac joint pain?
- Injury from playing strenuous sports, jogging, car accident or a fall.
- Standing for long periods or climbing stairs.
- Walking unevenly (or abnormally).
- Strenuous Running.
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis) or Gout.
- Being overweight can put pressure on your sacroiliac joint.
- Damaged ligaments that hold your sacroiliac joints together.
- Old age – your cartilage over the sacroiliac joint slowly wears away which can cause sacroiliac joint pain.
- Pregnancy can be a cause where the sacroiliac joints must loosen up (be more flexible) to accommodate childbirth.
- Infection can also cause sacroiliac joint pain.
What are the symptoms for sacroiliac joint pain?
The most common sacroiliac joint pain you may experience is in the following areas:
- Lower back.
- Buttocks.
- Thighs.
- Legs.
- Hips.
- Pelvis.
- Groin.
The pain may worsen with prolonged sitting, standing, walking or climbing stairs.
You may also experience numbness and weakness when getting up from a sitting position.
You should consult a doctor if you experience any of the symptoms listed above.
Diagnosis
- Pressing on the hips and buttocks.
- Moving the legs into different positions in order to put a little pressure on the sacroiliac joints.
- X-ray, CT scan, Ultrasound scan and MRI of the pelvis can show if the sacroiliac joint is damaged.
- The use of numbing injections (anesthetics) can also confirm the likelihood of a problem in the sacroiliac joint if it stops the pain.
Treatment
The type of treatment needed depends on the symptoms you get, as well as the causes of this condition.
Some of the non-surgical treatments are:
- It can be medications such as pain relievers (aspirin and ibuprofen which you can get over the counter), or prescribed stronger versions such as anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants.
- Physical therapy (stretching and strengthening exercises) to help maintain joint flexibility and make the muscles more stable.
- Cortisone injections that can reduce inflammation.
If the above non-surgical treatment (physical therapy and medications) haven’t relieved the pain, your doctor might suggest the following:
- Joint injections such as Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and pain.
- Radiofrequency denervation to damage or destroy the nerves round the joint which is causing your pain.
- Joint fusion – fusing the two joints together with metal screws that can sometimes relieve sacroiliitis pain.
“Surgery is considered as the last resort”.
