What is SI Joint Pain

What is SI Joint Pain

What is SI Joint Pain?

Well Sacroiliac Joint dysfunction or  “SI joint pain” as it is most commonly known,  is the pain originating in the joint connecting the sacrum and the right and left iliac bones.

The iliac bones are the two large bones that are located in back of the pelvis.

There is typically less than 4° of rotation at the SI Joint  Pain because primarily the the motion will occur either in the hips or in the lumbar spine.

The SI joints support the entire weight of our upper body when we are standing.  This places a very huge amount of stress on the joint. This stress will cause wearing of the cartilage and in some cases can lead to arthritis.

Arthritis can occur in any of the joints that have cartilage and any degree of movement.

Patients who have sacroiliac joint problems probably suffer from SI joint problems such as: SI joint syndrome and SI joint inflammation.

SI Joint dysfunction can originate fom trauma, bio-mechanical forces, hormonal imbalances and inflammatory joint disease.

A traumatic injury occurs when there is a sudden impact. this can occur when we slip and fall.  A Bio-mechanical dysfunction will typically occur over a prolonged period of time. This can occur as a result of playing sports or even as part of our job duties.

It has been found that women are more prone to having SI Joint dysfunction during pregnancy. This occurs because of the hormonal changes which increase the laxity in the pelvis region and creating hyper mobile joints. This change and the additional weight gained from the pregnancy are contributing factors.

The most common symptom is pain, pain in the lower back or the back of the hips. Some patients complain of pain in their thighs.  This pain will tend o increase when individuals are standing. Conversely the pain will decrease when the individuals lie down.

Sacroiliac inflammation responds well to conservative therapy.  This may require that indivulas will have to avoid physical activity including sports.

Patients may find that using anti-inflammatory medication to minimize the inflammation will relieve their pain.

When the inflammation has diminished your doctor may recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the joints and increase the flexibility.

Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen may help. However you should use caution and ask your doctor if they are appropriate for you. You don’t want the medications to interact with any other prescription may be taking.

You should always consult with your doctor before you take any medication or begin any medical program.

If you would like to find additional information about Arthritis and SI Joint Pain, please visit our previous post.