How can a body part you have probably never heard of hurt so BAD? This is a common question we hear from individuals suffering from sacroiliac (SI) joint pain.
Each SI joint is formed by two bones; the sacrum (“tailbone”) and the ilium (“Hip bone”). You have two SI joints, each located on either side of the lower back. It’s purpose is to connect the spine to the pelvis. This small joint is one of the most durable parts of the human body, and it is responsible for a big job.
The unassuming little SI joint withstands the pressure of the upper body’s weight pushing down on it, as well as pressure pushing up from the pelvis and legs. It’s basically the cushion between the torso and the legs. As such, it handles force from pretty much every angle.
While immensely strong and durable, this joint is not indestructible. SI joint pain usually crops up as lower back pain, or pain in the legs or buttocks.
Weakness in these areas may also be present. The typical culprits in causing the SI joint to exhibit pain are traumatic injuries to the lower back. More frequently, SI issue develop over a long period of time.
SI joint pain is often misdiagnosed as soft tissue issues instead of the joint itself. If you’ve been working on the soft tissues of the pelvis (gluts, hamstrings, piriformis muscles) without help, it’s time to have your SI joint checked by a Chiropractor.
If you have suffered an injury, a degenerative disease, or otherwise damaged the SI joint, there are options available to help manage pain, promote healing, and lessen the chances of recurrence. Here are a four helpful guidelines to assist in effectively handling sacroiliac joint pain.
First, rest and ice the area.
Avoid exaggerated movements of your lower back in order to relieve some of the body’s pressure on the SI joint. Also apply ice wrapped in a towel periodically to soothe the area and minimize the pain.
Second, see a chiropractor.
Chiropractic adjustments help promote the healing process of this joint and thus pain relief.
A chiropractor is specifically trained to guide you through several phases of care. They don’t focus just on pain relief but are primarily interested in helping you fix the problem. This will decrease the risk of pain returning down the road.
Third, is with therapeutic massage.
Tightness around the joint is a common cause of discomfort and pain. Professional massage serves to loosen and relax the muscles around the lower back, buttocks, and leg areas, offering relief from pain.
Finally
In very rare cases, doctors will choose to apply an injection to the area to alleviate pain and inflamed tissue. Obviously, the injection won’t fix the problem but may give the patient relief temporarily. Surgery is rarely a viable option.
If you show symptoms of SI pain, it’s important to see Dr Nardi so he can perform tests to correctly diagnose your condition. It could very well be another type of lower back problem. So quit suffering and give us a call!
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