1. The Anatomy of Sacroiliac Joints
The connection of two bones in the lower spine forms the sacroiliac joints. The sacrum, which sits beneath the lumbar region, is a triangular-shaped bone with five fused vertebrae. The sacrum is wedged between the two pelvis (iliac) bones. The sacroiliac joints are next to the spine on each side where the sacrum and iliac connect. These joints absorb shock, such as trunk movement, from the upper body. The sacroiliac joint is very strong for its size and has the aid of a very strong band of ligaments.
2. It's All in the Movement
The sacroiliac joints aren't supposed to move much, but they must move a little to allow us to twist and turn. When too much or too little movement occurs, the result can be lower back pain, as well as pain in the buttocks, hips, groin and/or thighs. Sacroiliac joint pain is usually located on one side of the body. Keep a log of your pain, including where it's located, what aggravates it and what relieves it.
3. Women Are More Prone
As with any weight-bearing joint, the sacroiliac joints are subject to arthritis, gout, psoriasis or any other ailment that affects similar joints. Because pain associated with the sacroiliac joints can cause a person to walk differently, other areas of the body can become involved. Women are more prone to sacroiliac pain than men due to childbearing. When a woman is pregnant, hormonal changes occur that relaxes the strong band of ligaments. Any woman will tell you that extra room is great when delivering a baby, but it's not so good for the sacroiliac joints in the long run.
4. An Elusive Diagnosis
Not all doctors are convinced that sacroiliac joint pain is truly a disorder. However, it is important that you get the proper diagnosis or you may receive time-consuming and expensive treatment that does no good. After talking to you about your history, your doctor may need to rule out other possible causes of the pain originating in the spine or hips by ordering x-rays, a bone scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan. If these tests are negative, he may inject the sacroiliac joint with an anesthetic such as lidocaine and a steroid to see if this relieves the pain.
5. Getting Physical Therapy
The treatment of sacroiliac joint pain depends on whether too much or too little movement is present. Physical therapy will help you loosen the joints if too tight and teach you exercises for sacroiliac joint pain. Chiropractors and osteopath physicians can assist by providing movement if your physical therapist does not have the training. Your doctor may also advise you to rest and take anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin and Aleve.
