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Sacroiliac Joint Pain

In this article, you will find out everything you need to know about sacroiliac joint pain and the most effective ways to treat it, including an advanced treatment called Prolotherapy.

Strong ligaments and muscles support the sacroiliac joints. For typical bodily flexibility, the sacroiliac joint dysfunction has a very modest range of motion. Our bones get rheumatic, and our ligaments tighten as we age. When the cartilage deteriorates, the bones may rub against one another, resulting in discomfort.

The Sacroiliac joint is a fluid-filled synovial joint. This joint contains exposed nerve endings, resulting in persistent discomfort if the joint degenerates or does not function correctly.

Symptoms of Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Each individual has a unique experience with the symptoms of SI joint problems. Typical symptoms of si joint dysfunction include the following:

  • Lower back discomfort
  • Buttocks, hips, and pelvic pain
  • Hip discomfort restricted to a single SI joint
  • Pain while rising from a seated posture
  • Stiffness or a burning feeling in the pelvic
  • numbness
  • weakness
  • Radiating agony down the thighs and upper legs
  • A sensation that your legs may buckle and fail to support your body

Some Common Causes

Sacroiliac joint pain can occur due to a variety of factors, including the following:

  • Injuries caused by trauma

An abrupt impact, such as a car accident or a tumble, might result in a sacroiliac joint injury.

  • Arthritis

Sacroiliac joints can develop wear-and-tear arthritis (osteoarthritis), as well as ankylosing spondylitis – a kind of inflammatory arthritis that affects nerves in the spine.

  • Pregnancy

For less complex delivery cases, the sacroiliac joints must relax and stretch. Pregnancy’s increased weight and changed stride might place additional strain on these joints, resulting in abnormal wear.

  • Infection

The sacroiliac joint can get infected in rare instances.

Rehabilitation and Prevention for Sacroiliac Joint Pain

A good attitude, consistent activity, and an expedited return to work are critical components of rehabilitation. If routine work responsibilities are initially impossible to execute, a modified (light or restricted) duty may be prescribed for a limited period.

Preventing recurrences is critical:

  • Techniques for lifting correctly
  • Proper posture is necessary for sitting, standing, moving, and sleeping.
  • Exercise regularly that include stretching/strengthening
  • An ergonomic work environment
  • Appropriate diet, a healthy body weight, and a lean body mass
  • Techniques for stress management and relaxation
  • Smoking is prohibited.

Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Prolotherapy

In recent years, Prolotherapy has built its reputation within the medical community for its clinically proven ability to treat sacroiliac joint pain.

Published research has proven its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and regenerative benefits.

Prolotherapy involves injecting a natural regenerative solution with tiny needles. This has been shown to stimulate the production of collagen cells, the small cells needed to repair the damage and help sacroiliac joint pain.

As prolotherapy is helping to treat the root cause of sacroiliac joint pain, it is deemed to be a permanent fix, preventing the symptoms from returning.

Medications – Please note that these should only be taken in the short-term due to their side-effects

Your doctor may prescribe the following treatments, depending on the source of your chronic pain is:

  • Anti-inflammatories

If over-the-counter pain relievers are ineffective, your doctor may prescribe stronger versions of these medications.

  • Relaxants for the muscles

They may help alleviate the muscular spasms that are frequently associated low back pain along with sacroiliitis.

Physical Therapy for Sacroiliac Joint pain

Your physician or physical therapist can teach you a range of motion and stretching exercises that will help you maintain joint flexibility and strengthening exercises that will give pain relief help your muscles become more stable.

Operations Surgical and Non-Surgical

If none of the previous techniques works, your doctor may recommend the following:

  • Injections of joints

Corticosteroids Injections can be used to decrease inflammation and relieve pain and discomfort in the joint temporarily. Unfortunately, steroids can weaken the bones and tendons in your joint long-term.

  • Denervation by Radio Frequency.

Radiofrequency radiation can cause significant damage or destruction to the nerve tissue that is causing your pain.

  • Stimulation by Electricity

Sacroiliitis discomfort leg pain may be alleviated by implanting an electrical stimulator into the sacrum.

  • Fused joints

Although surgery is a last resort to treat sacroiliitis, joining the two bones with metal hardware can occasionally provide pain relief and alleviate discomfort associated with sacroiliitis.

A man pointing to his si joint pain

Some Useful Stretches for Patients

In Sacroiliac joint pain, soft tissues in the pelvis, groin, lower back, and thighs can cause or exacerbate sacroiliac joint discomfort. Stretches for specific muscles or muscle groups can help relieve sacroiliac SI joint discomfort and restore leg, pelvic, and lower back range of motion. These are as follows:

  • Muscle Stretches

Several muscles that arise from the sacrum or hip bones (iliac crests) assist the pelvis. Releasing tension in these muscles can help relieve sacroiliac joint and lower back pain.

  • Stretch hamstrings

Sit on a chair with one leg over another chair straight in front of the body is a simple hamstring stretch. Stretch the hamstrings by reaching toward the toes. Hold for 15-30 seconds, then alternate legs five times to stretch both hamstrings. The ideal technique to safely stretch your hamstrings depends on your inclination.

  • Quadriceps flex

Stretch your quadriceps in the front of the thigh by supporting one arm against a wall. Holding the foot or ankle with the right hand, pull the right leg up behind the torso. Hold for 15-30 seconds, then switch sides. Stretch the quadriceps twice each leg.

  • Hip flexor stretches

The hip adductor muscles assist the legs toward the body’s center and originate from the pelvic bones. To stretch these muscles and loosen the SI joint, sit in a triangle with legs straight and apart, then slowly lean toward one side with the toes. Hold for 5–10 seconds, then 15–30 seconds.

  • Press-up flex

Stretch the lower abdomen and front of the pelvis by raising the upper body to the elbows and holding for 15-30 seconds. Keep shoulders relaxed low back, down, and away from ears for optimum effects while relaxing lower back and buttocks muscles. Begin with 5 seconds and work up to 15-30 seconds. Rep 5–10 times. Isometric knee-to-chest stretch

On your back, bend one knee towards the chest while maintaining the other leg straight and flat. Cross the fingers behind the thigh and slowly lower the knee for 5 seconds. Rep this stretch 5-10 times on each side.

References

  1. Sacroiliac joint pain. Mayfield.https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-sijointpain.htm
  2. Mayoclinic staff. Sacroilitis. Mayoclinic.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sacroiliitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350747
  3. Yomans S. SI joint pain. Spine health. Jul, 2018.https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sacroiliac-joint-dysfunction/sacroiliac-joint-dysfunction-si-joint-pain

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