While you might not often think about your sacroiliac joints, they play a crucial role in supporting your upper body weight when you stand. You have sacroiliac joints on both sides, connecting your pelvis with your lumbar spine. This joint comprises the sacrum and the ilium (the top part) of your pelvis. When this joint moves too much or too little, it's known as sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Arthritis and pregnancy are common causes of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Regardless of the cause, it’s important to know how to manage your discomfort to get much-needed relief.

Here’s what you need to know about managing sacroiliac joint dysfunction, courtesy of our team at Spine and Brain India.

What Does Sacroiliac Joint Pain Feel Like?

Sacroiliac joint pain typically causes lower back pain, often felt on one side near the affected joint, though it can also be felt on both sides. This pain is usually dull and achy, ranging from mild to severe.

In addition to lower back pain, you might also notice:

• Pain in your hips, buttocks, or groin

• Stiffness

• Reduced range of motion in your lower back

• Sciatica-like sensations

• Pain that worsens during activities that stress the joint, such as jogging, climbing, or lying on one side

• Sensation that your lower back may buckle

Because some of these symptoms, like sciatica, can be related to other conditions, it's crucial to get an accurate diagnosis before trying any treatments for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Diagnosis is done through a physical exam and diagnostic imaging such as x-rays.

How to Manage Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Once our team has determined that sacroiliac joint dysfunction is the source of your discomfort, you may consider:

1. Activity Modification

Sometimes the simplest solutions provide the quickest relief. If certain activities exacerbate your symptoms, try modifying your positions. For example, if sitting worsens your pain, switch to a standing desk. Alternatively, if sleeping on your back hurts, try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees.

2. Physical Therapy

At Spine and Brain India, our physical therapy team excels at creating exercise and stretching regimens to reduce joint pain, improve your range of motion, and enhance joint stability.

3. Steroid Injections

Corticosteroid injections, commonly known as steroid injections, contain a local anesthetic and a steroid. While the anesthetic provides pain relief, the steroid helps reduce inflammation.

4. Regenerative Medicine

Depending on your specific needs, our team may also recommend regenerative medicine treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections or stem cell therapy. Studies show that PRP injections reduce joint pain, improve joint stability, and enhance quality of life. Participants who received PRP injections reported relief from back pain for up to four years after the initial treatment.

Say Goodbye to Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Joint pain, regardless of the affected joint, can significantly impact your quality of life. You don’t have to manage sacroiliac joint dysfunction on your own. To explore your treatment options, schedule an appointment at Spine and Brain India and say goodbye to joint pain today.