Signs Your Lower Back Pain Stems From Your Sacroiliac Joint (And What We Can Do About It)

Lower back pain is a widespread problem. Around 31 million Americans live with lower back pain at any given time. In many cases, the pain is due to problems with the sacroiliac joint. However, many injuries and degenerative conditions can cause lower back pain, so it can sometimes be difficult to identify the root cause of back pain. 

At Interventional Pain Center in Worthington and Newark, Ohio, Sachida Manocha, MD, a leading interventional pain management specialist, provides physical exams and testing to identify the causes of back pain. He also provides state-of-the-art treatments for back pain, including sacroiliac joint fusion surgery. In this blog, Dr. Manocha discusses some of the signs of sacroiliac joint pain and how the condition can be treated.

What is the sacroiliac joint?

Your sacrum comprises five fused vertebrae at the bottom of your spine. You might call it your tailbone. Your left and right iliac bones make up your pelvis. The sacroiliac joint connects your spine to your pelvis. Compared to other joints in your body, your sacroiliac joint isn’t very mobile, but it supports your entire upper body. A network of ligaments holds your sacroiliac joint in place and provides stability. 

Signs of sacroiliac joint pain

Some of the signs that your lower back pain may be due to a problem with your sacroiliac joint include:

• Pain on one side of your lower back
• Burning sensations or stiffness in your pelvis
• Pain that doesn’t extend above your waistline
• Pain that radiates into your hip, groin, or thighs
• Pain that is worse when you stand or walk

Dr. Manocha might use several sacroiliac joint provocation tests to pinpoint the location of your pain. If at least three of the tests trigger your pain, there’s a good chance the pain is due to a problem with your sacroiliac joint. 

Causes of sacroiliac joint pain

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of sacroiliac joint pain. Like other joints in your body, your sacroiliac joint is coated with cartilages, which cushions and protects your bones. Osteoarthritis develops as cartilage wears away. When too much wears away, your sacroiliac joint can get inflamed and irritated, causing pain and stiffness. 

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is another common cause of sacroiliac joint pain. When you’re pregnant, your body releases hormones that loosen your ligaments to prepare your body for childbirth. You also carry a little extra weight, and your gait can change, which can increase the stress on your sacroiliac joint and lead to pain.

Other causes

Other conditions can also cause sacroiliac joint pain, including:

• Gout
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis 
• Traumatic injury

You should never ignore pain. While a minor injury usually subsides with a couple of days of rest, longer-lasting pain is usually a sign of a more serious condition, and you should seek a professional medical assessment.

Treatments for sacroiliac joint pain

Here at Interventional Pain Center, Dr. Manocha uses a variety of tests and imaging studies to identify the condition causing your pain. Then, he creates a personalized treatment plan to ease your pain and heal your body for lasting relief and improved overall health. 

Depending on your condition, Dr. Manocha may recommend a combination of physical therapy, regenerative medicine, and spinal injections. He might also recommend nerve blocks, ablation or neuromodulation to ease your symptoms. 

If other treatments don’t relieve your pain, he may suggest a sacroiliac joint fusion procedure. This surgical treatment uses bone grafts and screws to fuse your sacrum to your iliac bones, restoring stability to your pelvis, hips, and lower back. A minimally invasive outpatient sacroiliac fusion procedure is also available in which hardware can be avoided. Dr. Manocha is trained in doing this procedure.

If lower back pain is interfering with your life, get help by booking an appointment online or over the phone with Interventional Pain Center today.