Oh, my aching back! How many times have you said this out loud or thought about it? It might have been pain originating from your sacroiliac joint in your lower back. If so, keep reading to discover how to find sacroiliac (SI) joint pain relief.
What Commonly Causes Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain?
We have one sacroiliac joint on each side of our body, and it’s where your ilium and sacrum bones join together. The sacrum is the wide, flat bone located between your tailbone and lumbar spine, and the ilium is often called the hip bone. This joint rarely moves.
A sudden injury or repetitive stress can cause the SI joint to become inflamed and painful. It can commonly develop from:
- Pregnancy
- An infection
- Arthritis
- Sitting for extended periods of time
Conservative Treatments for SI Joint Pain
Once Dr. Rathna Nuti at DFW Sports Medicine has made a diagnosis, the treatments are usually very conservative at first. If needed, we will gradually try additional conservative therapies one at a time or concurrently.
Rest
At the first sign of SI pain, try not to twist your body. After resting for several days, the pain should subside. Just be careful not to overdo the rest time, or the joint may become stiff. Try gentle walking instead.
Medications
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can help right after an acute injury. They can be combined with ice to reduce localized swelling and pain. Dr. Nuti may also prescribe muscle relaxers if needed.
Ice and Heat
Both thermal modalities help to reduce inflammation and pain. Use ice for several days right after the pain begins, but don’t begin using heat until later in your recovery process.
Physical Therapy
Ask Dr. Nuti to refer you for specialized physical therapy. This can begin as early as a couple of days after your pain begins. Physical therapy will help you strengthen weak core and gluteal muscles that put stress on the SI joint. It will also help you address and treat any underlying biomechanical issues that caused the injury.
A physical therapist may also perform manual manipulations to relieve tight muscles in the lower back and make your joint more mobile.
Meet Our Sports Medicine & Joint Specialist
If persistent lower back pain is keeping you from your favorite physical activities, trust your healing process to Dr. Rathna Nuti, M.D.. As a board-certified family and sports medicine physician, Dr. Nuti specializes in non-surgical orthopedic treatments, custom rehabilitation strategies, and advanced joint pain solutions designed to get you moving comfortably again.
Minimally Invasive Treatments
Most patients are pain-free after utilizing conservative treatments, but for those who find no relief, targeted injections may be the next course of action. These therapeutic injections contain a mixture of corticosteroids and local anesthetics to reduce both joint inflammation and pain. To protect your joint tissue, you can only receive these injections a few times a year. Fortunately, this treatment boasts a 90% success rate.
When None of the Above Works
The vast majority of patients are relieved of their pain when these treatments are properly applied. For the few who do not find relief, other advanced options are available:
- Radiofrequency Ablation: This procedure uses radio waves to temporarily disable the nerve endings sending pain signals from the joint to the brain.
- Spine Fusion Surgery: Joint fusion is considered a last resort when all non-surgical methods fail to stabilize the joint.
There is no single way to manage SI joint pain that will work for everyone. A combination of customized, non-surgical treatments is usually necessary for effective, long-lasting pain relief.
Schedule Your Joint Evaluation
Contact DFW Sports Medicine at (469) 430-9380 if you are having lower back pain in McKinney or Frisco and suspect it is caused by the sacroiliac (SI) joint. You can also request an appointment online through our secure Patient Portal.