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Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Key Takeaways

  • These joints connect the spine to the pelvis and can cause up to 30% of chronic lower back pain cases, often mimicking disc problems but requiring different treatment approaches.
  • Pain typically presents as sharp or aching discomfort on one side that worsens when transitioning from sitting to standing, climbing stairs, or lying on the affected side.
  • Pregnancy hormones like relaxin can loosen these joints by up to 3mm, explaining why 45% of pregnant women develop pelvic pain that may persist postpartum.
  • Physical therapy focusing on hip and core strengthening shows 60-70% success rates, while steroid injections provide relief for 3-6 months in most patients.
  • Leg length discrepancies as small as 5mm can create uneven stress on these joints, often requiring heel lifts or orthotics as part of treatment.

If you experience a sharp or dull pain in your lower back when standing up from a seated position, you might be dealing with sacroiliac (SI) joint pain. This common condition affects between 15-30% of people who suffer from lower back pain. In this article, we'll explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for SI joint pain to help you find relief.

What Is the Sacroiliac Joint?

The sacroiliac joint, or SI joint, is located on each side of your spine in your lower back. There are two SI joints in your body, and their primary function is to support the weight of your upper body when standing or walking and transfer that load to your legs.

Symptoms of SI Joint Pain

SI joint pain can manifest as a dull or sharp sensation that originates in the SI joint but may radiate to other areas, such as:

  • Buttocks

  • Thighs

  • Groin

  • Upper back

The pain often occurs on only one side of the lower back and may be more noticeable in the morning, gradually improving throughout the day. Standing up from a seated position can also trigger the pain.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Causes of SI Joint Pain

SI joint pain typically occurs when the joint becomes inflamed. Some common causes of SI joint inflammation include:

  • Sports injuries or falls

  • Repetitive stress from activities like jogging

  • Uneven leg lengths causing abnormal stride patterns

  • Damaged ligaments surrounding the SI joint

  • Arthritis, such as ankylosing spondylitis

  • Wear and tear of the cartilage covering the SI joint due to aging

  • Pregnancy-related hormonal changes that cause joint loosening and altered movement patterns

Treatment Options for SI Joint Pain

There are several treatment options available for managing SI joint pain, including:

  1. Activity modification: Avoiding activities that exacerbate SI joint pain, as recommended by your doctor.

  2. Pain medication: Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers to manage discomfort.

  3. Physical therapy: Exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and correct abnormal movement patterns. Therapists may also use ultrasound, heat and cold treatments, massage, and stretching.

  4. Injections: Cortisone injections to reduce inflammation, nerve block injections to numb the affected area, or prolotherapy injections to tighten loose ligaments.

  5. Chiropractic treatment: Adjustments to help relieve pain by manipulating muscles and joints.

  6. Nerve treatment: Permanently damaging or freezing the nerve that sends pain signals from the SI joint to the brain.

  7. Surgery: In rare cases, when other treatments fail, SI joint fusion surgery may be recommended to join the bones near the joint using pins and implants.

Most people with SI joint pain find relief through a combination of these non-surgical treatments. By working closely with your healthcare provider, you can develop a personalized treatment plan to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

For more information on SI joint pain and its management, consult the following reputable sources:

The Bottom Line

Most people achieve significant improvement within 6-12 weeks using conservative treatments like targeted exercises, anti-inflammatory medications, and activity modifications. Joint fusion surgery is rarely needed, reserved only for cases where conservative care fails after 6+ months. If you're experiencing one-sided back pain that worsens with certain movements, Doctronic can help determine if this joint dysfunction might be the culprit.

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