SACROILIAC JOINT PAIN- WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT CAN BE TREATED…

If, like me you are a sufferer of SI joint pain then you will try a number of treatments to help alleviate it. The Very Well Health site explain what sacroiliac joint pain is. SI joints (there are two) are located on either side of your lower back between the sacrum—a triangle-shaped bone that sits beneath the lumbar spine and above the tailbone—and the pelvic bones. SI joints, like any other, can become irritated, dysfunctional (they move too much or not enough), or injured, all of which can lead to pain.

The symptoms of SI joint pain is pain, which can be sharp, stabbing, or dull and located in the lower back or the back of the hip area. Sometimes the pain is felt in the groin, thigh, below the knee, or in the buttocks. Movements or positions that stress the joint can worsen the pain, such as standing up from a sitting position, walking up stairs, turning in bed, or bending/twisting.

I have arthritis in both my SI joints and one side gives me a lot more pain than the other. My pain is both sharp when I lie on my side and stabbing and after a walk can be dull and is in my lower back and hip area. Last year they thought I was suffering from hip bursitis due to the referred pain I was having in my hips but the MRI scan showed it was the SI joints with arthritis.

The treatment I had was corticosteroid which was injected into the SI joint to provide longer-lasting relief. The relief was amazing and lasted a good three months and has slowly come back during the last month. I was told I could have these injections every four months so I am now waiting for a referral for another one. This does not always work for everyone but they say that this injection is  “gold standard” diagnostic test for SI joint dysfunction. If a person experiences at least a 75 percent improvement in pain, the test is considered “positive. So, at least you know what we are dealing with.

Other treatments which Healthline writes about include stretching the muscles around your SI joint as this can potentially help you loosen up tight areas. This may help relieve tension in your lower back and make it easier to move around with less pain and discomfort. They suggest that you try to set aside some time each day to stretch. Even doing a couple of stretches for a few minutes a day can go a long way. Here are 5 stretches and 2 gentle exercises you can do at home to help ease SI joint pain from Healthline.

Other treatments for SI joint pain which are explained on Pain Management site include, radiofrequency denervation  which can also be useful in the treatment of SI joints. This form of treatment uses heat to deactivate the nerves surrounding the painful joint, preventing it from sending pain signals. Treatment with a good physio therapist can also help correct posture and body movements, and provide advice on different sleeping positions. Over the counter medication can be used to treat painful symptoms and in more severe cases, prescription painkillers may be administered. Or, in some cases, where all the above treatment methods fail, then surgery may be considered as an option. SI joint fusion permanently fixes the sacrum to the ilium using metal implants.

Source: Very Well Health, Health Line, Pain Management