Sacroiliac Joint Pain – Is it The Cause of Your Lower Back Pain?

Pain in the lower back, buttocks, and legs are common sacroiliac joint pain symptoms. The sacroiliac joint is a joint that connects the sacrum bone to the iliac bone. It is located near the tailbone and pelvis. The sacroiliac joint is often called a “sacral-iliac joint” or “SI joint.” The condition itself is referred to as Sacroiliitis.

The SI joints are responsible for transmitting weight, allowing motion, and providing stability to the spine. These joints are also responsible for balancing weight and force from one side of the body to another, which can cause pain in these areas if there is damage or an injury.

Causes and Symptoms of Sacroiliac Joint Pain

A person can suffer from Sacroiliac Joint Pain if there is any misalignment between the sacrum and the iliac bone, or if there are any problems with the ligaments or muscles that connect them together. This pain can be felt in many parts of the body, including in your back, buttocks, hips, thighs, and feet. It can also cause you difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or sitting down for long periods without pain.

Causes of sacroiliac joint pain include:

• Arthritis/Inflammation
• Ligament injuries such as sprains or strains
• Muscle spasms in your pelvic muscle
• Pregnancy
• Tumors

Symptoms of sacroiliac joint pain include:

• Pain in the buttocks, lower back, and groin area
• Sharp pains in one or both hips
• Aching pain in the buttocks, lower back, and groin area

Chiropractic Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Although Sacroiliac Joint Pain is a common condition it’s important that the first step to diagnosis is to rule out other possible causes of the pain such as herniated discs or sciatica. Sometimes these conditions are present in combination with sacroiliac joint pain.

Your chiropractor will review your health history thoroughly and assess possible lifestyle factors with you before performing a physical evaluation.

A physical examination for Sacroiliac Joint Pain may include:

• Palpation – touching the area of concern and looking for tenderness in specific areas.
• Straight leg raise test – lifting the straight leg up while lying down will cause more pressure on the sacroiliac joint if it’s inflamed.
• Sacral thrust test – pushing on the lower back just below the beltline in one direction can help determine which side has inflammation.

Chiropractic treatment for Sacroiliac Joint Pain often consists of a schedule of adjustments to restore proper alignment, reduce inflammation, and promote healing, along with cold laser therapy and prescribed corrective exercise to strengthen the supporting muscles and ligaments. Some patients may also benefit from weight loss to reduce future occurrences of pain in the sacroiliac joint.

At Dutchess Braincore and Wellness Center, Dr. Will offers both traditional hands-on chiropractic care and a gentler treatment technique using the ProAdjusterSP system for those who suffer from conditions like arthritis or are more sensitive to manual manipulation. For those that can handle hands-on, Dr.Will utilizes the Thompson Drop technique. He feels that this is without a doubt the best treatment for SI Joint pain. Most patients suffering from Sacroiliac Joint Pain experience relief starting at their first visit.

If you are experiencing lower back pain call (845) 592-2237 to schedule an appointment with our office and we’ll help you get back to feeling your best.