Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain
Do you suffer for lower back pain?
This could be related to Sacroiliac Joint Pain. Our pain specialists can help diagnose and treat your pain.
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What is Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain?
Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain can manifest as pain in the low back, buttocks, or groin area but may also radiate down the legs and into the feet. Located between the pelvis and the base of the spine, the sacroiliac joints, or SI joints, are strong, stable joints that allow for a little movement. While SI joints do not bend like a knuckle or knee, they are susceptible to degenerative arthritis.
SI joints act as shock absorbers, transmitting and absorbing the forces of the upper body to the pelvis and legs. A dense network of muscles and ligaments supports these joints and allow very little movement. These SI joint ligaments are the strongest in the body.
Injury to these ligaments can cause SI joint pain. For example, small tears through years of overuse or strain can eventually allow for too much movement in the joint, resulting in pain. The primary function of the SI joints is to transfer weight from the upper body to the lower body.
We have answers and options to relieve pain from Herniated Discs, Disc Bulges, Spinal Stenosis, Sciatica, Pinched Nerve, Annular Disc Tear, Degenerative Disc disease, Spondylosis/Spine Arthritis, Radiculopathy, Bone Spurs/Osteophytes and Facet Joint Syndrome.
Free Pain Screening Quiz
Pain presents itself in many different ways, at different times and in many cases is triggered by specific activities. Arizona Pain Treatment Centers will be happy to answer your questions in conjunction with a personal phone call follow up with one of our doctors. Please answer the questions as accurately as possible.
Free Pain Screening Quiz
What causes Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain?
Sacroiliac joint pain may be due to conditions within the joint. Some of the conditions that may cause SI joint pain include:
- Traumatic injury to the SI joint from a sudden impact, like a fall or an accident
- Arthritis of the SI joint
- Traumatic birth
- A pregnancy that results in an altered gait
- Previous lumbar spine surgery
- Infection of the SI joint (this is a rare condition)
What about Low Back Pain and the Sacroiliac Joint?
It is important when diagnosing and treating the source of low back pain to accurately identify the pain generators as they may be due to multiple causes that can occur by themselves or concurrently. Also, low back pain symptoms can vary and can manifest in locations other than the lower back. Some of the conditions that can cause low back pain include:
- Bulging or herniated discs
- Sciatica
- Spinal degeneration
- Spinal stenosis
- Osteoporosis
- Skeletal irregularities
- Spondylitis
- Sacroiliac joint problems – sacroiliitis or inflammation
We have found that for many patients, there are multiple coexisting conditions that are the source of low back pain. Often, a single condition is not responsible for an individual’s low back pain and our experienced team of specialists looks at all sources of pain.
We understand that previously the sacroiliac joint was an area that was routinely ignored when diagnosing and treating low back pain and pays special attention to the Sacroiliac Joint area when examining each patient with low back and leg pain.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
SI joint pain can be aggravated by:
- Prolonged standing or placing more weight on one leg
- Sitting
- Bending
- Climbing stairs
- Running or taking large strides while walking
To properly diagnose the SI joint as a source of pain, we may use imaging studies, like X-ray, MRI, or CT scans. If tests indicate that the SI joint may be the source of low back pain, then an injection of anesthesia should be done to confirm the diagnosis. We do this test injection safely in our out-patient surgery center under live x-ray guidance or ultrasound guidance.
Treatments
Several options are available to treat SI joint pain, including rest and medications. Physical therapy or physical rehab may also be recommended. This will include stretches specifically for maintaining joint flexibility, and exercises to strengthen the muscles that stabilize the SI joint.
Other treatment options may include injections, such as a local anesthetic and an anti-inflammatory agent injected directly into the SI joint. Pain relief, generally, is temporary but may last several months. More chronic pain may be treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a procedure that uses radio waves to put the sensory nerves cause the pain to “sleep”.
If the condition is especially severe, minimally invasive surgery may be necessary. This out-patient surgery is called IFuse Implant System by SI-Bone. The purpose of the surgery is to stabilize the joint by fusing the two bones of the SI joint together. You can read more about the procedure directly on the website www.si-bone.com
Our surgeon specializes in this procedure and has had a large amount of success when selected for the appropriate patient.
What To Expect
Since 1997, our multi-disciplinary team has been helping our community and changing lives.
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