Your sacroiliac joint is a small, firm joint located at the place where your spine and pelvis meet. Although most joints are designed to move, such as hips and knees, the sacroiliac joint doesn’t move very much. However, it is critical when it comes to transferring the weight of your upper body to your lower body. Damage and injuries to the sacroiliac joint can be hard to diagnose because this joint is not easy to manipulate and because similar symptoms are often caused by other back problems.
When something does go wrong with the sacroiliac joint, the symptoms can include lower back pain, pain that mimics sciatica pain, or pain that spreads out; there may also be stiffness and instability. The pain may be hard to distinguish from that of a lumbar disc herniation, as they can both cause radiating leg pain. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can occur without an apparent reason, but there are some known risk factors. These include:
Prior Lower Back Surgery
Sacroiliac joint pain sometimes occurs following lower back surgery. Imaging tests more often show sacroiliac joint degeneration in patients who have these types of procedures. For an accurate diagnosis, it’s essential to see your doctor for a thorough examination, including a physical check-up, diagnostic injections, and radiographic studies, depending on what your provider recommends. Conservative treatments may be useful in some cases; these include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pelvic belts, physical therapy, injections of steroids and local anesthetics, or prolotherapy. If these measures are unsuccessful and the patient continues to experience disabling symptoms, surgery may be indicated.
Pregnancy or Recent Childbirth
Sacroiliac joint pain in pregnant women may be felt deep within the lower back on one or both sides. It may also radiate down the back of the leg. This pain can start at any time during pregnancy and may continue to intensify as pregnancy progresses. Most of the time, the pain resolves within a few months after delivery. However, in a few cases, it can become disabling and chronic. This type of pain during pregnancy is typically caused by hormones that relax ligaments to help the pelvis enlarge or physical changes due to the growing uterus. Another potential cause is mechanical strain due to the increased body weight and altered walking patterns. Physical therapy is often the first line of defense.
Activities that Place Repeated Stress on the Sacroiliac Joint
People who engage in contact sports, heavy lifting, and labor-intensive occupations may be more likely to experience sacroiliac joint pain. If your lower back or pelvic muscles are unconditioned, you may even find that stress from prolonged standing or sitting can lead to this type of pain as well. You may benefit from gentle exercises such as walking, but strenuous workouts such as running are likely to compound the problem. Rest and mild exercises such as yoga recommended by a physical therapist are good ways to give your body a chance to heal; exercises that strengthen the pelvis and spine can also be helpful.