A Complete Guide to Understanding Sacroiliac Joint Pain

If you are dealing with sacroiliac joint pain, then you should know that you are not alone. This is a condition that affects many people, and some more than others.

When you find yourself dealing with this debilitating condition, you will probably want to learn more about it so that you will be able to handle it properly so that it doesn’t get in the way of you living your day to day life.

The key is to make sure that you understand the causes and symptoms of the condition so that you can get an accurate diagnosis.

It is also a good idea for you to consider each and every treatment option that is made available to you. By doing this, you can ensure that your chances of overcoming the pain are higher.

First, we will start by taking a closer look at what sacroiliac joint pain really is, and then we will go a little more in depth with the causes and risk factors, followed by some information about treatment and prevention.

Dealing with sacroiliac joint pain is not fun at all, but if you are informed about it, it will make things go a lot more smoothly for you.

After all, it isn’t something that you have to deal with on a day to day basis. You just have to learn to manage it properly so that it doesn’t hinder you in life, and cause you to have a decreased quality of life.

What is Sacroiliac Joint Pain?

The first thing that people ask when they hear of sacroiliac joint pain, is ‘what is it?’ That’s a good question! First, it is important to understand what your sacroiliac joints are. This is the joint that is formed where the sacrum meets the iliac bones.

Most of the bones that make up your spine can actually move, but the sacrum is fused together, and it doesn’t move at all.

The iliac bones are the two bones that make up your pelvis, and these joints where the two meet are filled with ligaments and other tissue. These joints don’t move a whole lot, but if there is a lot of wear to the joints, then it can lead to pain.

There are various different levels when it comes to sacroiliac joint pain. These include sacroiliac joint dysfunction, sacroiliac joint syndrome, sacroiliac joint strain and sacroiliac joint inflammation.

These conditions will all cause pain to that sacroiliac joint, but it is important to understand that the causes of each of these issues can be different from one person to the next. It may also be difficult to tell what type of joint pain you are experiencing without going to the doctor first.

The problem is, many people just dismiss their sacroiliac joint pain and don’t go to the doctor in hopes that it will get better on its own, and most will find out that it isn’t the case at all.  It actually just gets worse over time without treatment or prevention.

The Causes of Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Sacroiliac joint pain can be caused by a variety of different things, and most of the time it will vary from one person to the next.

One of the main causes is degenerative arthritis, because it causes the cartilage to start to wear down between the bones, leading to more friction and less shock absorption. This can cause pain in this area, as well as many other areas that are considered to be a weight bearing joint.

Another cause of sacroiliac joint pain is pregnancy. Many pregnant women find themselves carrying added weight and walking a different way, which can lead to a lot of different concerns- including sacroiliac joint pain.

When your ligaments begin to relax to get you ready for childbirth, you will usually find that you have a lot more lower back pain. This may definitely be caused by your hormonal changes during your pregnancy, and the signs and symptoms may start to subside after delivery.

Some people’s sacroiliac joint pain is caused by problems walking. If you don’t walk correctly, the way you should, then you may have issues with your lower back.

Perhaps you have one leg that is longer than the other, it is going to put strain on your sacroiliac joint, thus causing pain.

This is because it puts more stress on your body, and these joints have to cope with the added stress some way or another, and it causes you to have pain.

Some types of disorders can play a big role in the cause of your sacroiliac joint pain as well. For instance, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriasis, you may find that it affects your joints. It can cause your joints to be stiff and painful, and can even cause these joints to fuse together if left untreated.

Other Risk Factors to Consider

While there are a few definitive causes of sacroiliac joint pain, there are also some risk factors for you to consider. As with any condition, there are some people that are going to be more susceptible to it than others.

Some of the common factors that may increase the chances that you will get sacroiliac joint pain include weak muscles that lack strength, twisting of the back, improper weight lifting and training, and certain types of inflammatory conditions that affect your joints- such as arthritis.

If you have any of these factors, then your chances are going to be higher than the average person when it comes to getting sacroiliac joint pain. The good news is that you don’t have to just accept it as a fact- you can do something about it.

There are certain types of prevention methods that you can use to help you avoid getting this debilitating condition altogether.

Just remember, it isn’t fool proof, but it can help to reduce your risk quite a bit, and may be worth your while to consider.

Symptoms of Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Sacroiliac joint pain can cause a variety of different symptoms, and some people will not experience the same symptoms and signs as others.

This is why it is important to have knowledge of all of the symptoms so that you can be aware of the condition if it were to affect you.

Most of the time, people will start to feel pain in their lower back at first, or even sometimes in the back of their hips.

This pain can really be frustrating, but sometimes people will brush it off as a different type of pain. Some people even think it is sciatica.

Another type of symptom that is common is the groin and thigh pain that often accompanies sacroiliac joint pain.

Sometimes, it can be really hard to tell what the real cause of the pain is, which is why doctors must really get to the bottom of it by ding some tests.

After all, there are so many conditions out there that can lead to the same type of symptoms, which makes it very tricky to accurately diagnose.

The good news is that there are new tests out there that can help doctors get closer to diagnosing sacroiliac joint pain spot on each and every time.

How it is Diagnosed

Now, we will take a closer look at how the condition is actually diagnosed. As stated earlier, it is clear that there are certain tests that must be done in order to rule out other conditions first and foremost.

Once these tests have been done, doctors will be able to take a look at a few other factors and help to make a diagnosis.

The key is for them to isolate the pain and get to the root of it, which is sometimes easier for some people than others. The majority of the time, pain will be worse when you are standing or walking, and gets better when you sit down or lay down.

The doctor will ask you a handful of questions and try to determine the root cause of the pain, so that they can accurately diagnose you with sacroiliac joint pain, if this is in fact what you are dealing with.

So, if you have had a diagnosis of sacroiliac joint pain, it may be time for you to take a closer look at some of the home remedies and other treatments that may be effective at dealing with the condition.

It is also important to look at some of the tried and true prevention methods that may make it easier for you to prevent the condition from getting worse down the road.

Prevention Methods

One of the best ways to handle your sacroiliac joint pain is through prevention entirely. Preventing the condition is the best way to go about it because you never have to worry about dealing with the pain that it causes, but most people will tell you that prevention is not 100% effective in every case.

With that being said, here are some of the best ways that you can go about preventing sacroiliac joint pain.

First of all, understand that not everyone can prevent their sacroiliac joint pain. It usually comes with aging, but if you take the time to stay active and exercise regularly, then you will find that you have a reduced chance of ever having to deal with sacroiliac joint pain.

If you cut back the stress on your joints that can also be very beneficial. It is a good idea to keep your weight healthy and look for ways that you can condition your body to help keep yourself healthy overall. Good overall health and wellness is the best way to prevent many conditions, when you really think about it.

Home Remedies to Help With Sacroiliac Joint Pain

When dealing with sacroiliac joint pain, there are a few great home remedies that have been proven to be effective for many people.

The good news is that many of these treatment options are simple, and you don’t need a whole lot of money to get started either!

Many people opt for taking over the counter pain relievers, but that isn’t always the best option.  While it does help you avoid a trip to the doctor, it really is just putting a bandaid over the situation rather than fixing it completely. It will only cover the pain for a short period of time before you have to turn right around and take more medication.

Another option that you may consider is getting more rest. Rest can really help to cut back on the amount of sacroiliac joint pain you experience.

When you don’t get enough rest, you will find that your joints have more stress and inflammation, which can really be bad for you.

You should also fix your posture and makes sure that you sit and stand straight at all times. It really does make a big difference. So, just rest and relax your muscles from time to time, and stand up straight- and you may notice a difference.

Most people have found that ice packs and heating pads work wonders on their sacroiliac joint pain.  When you put heat on the affected area, it helps to draw out some of the pain.

You will also find that alternating ice with the heat can give you even more added benefits. If you are still dealing with pain, it may be time for you to try a good old fashioned hot and cold pack for relief!

Other Treatment Options to Consider

If the home remedies are just not working for you, and your sacroiliac joint pain is just continuing to get worse, then you may need to turn to other types of treatment options.

Many people find that getting injections directly into their joint actually helps them to alleviate the pain, even though it is very painful during the process.

Some people will usually find that this pain relief isn’t really long term though, but it does seem to be pretty effective.

Anti-inflammatory medications can also be of help, because it helps to cut back on the inflammation, thus allowing the joint to move more freely and cause you less pain. Steroids can even help as well when it comes to inflammation.

Some people don’t want to turn to the use of prescription medications and injections to help with their pain, so they decide to use physical therapy as an option.

It can really be very helpful for some people, as it helps you to get more motion and can also help you to reduce the pain and swelling.

They can even give you some exercises, including yoga techniques and pilates techniques that can really be beneficial as well.

Finally, you need to consider surgery as an option. While it probably isn’t your first option on the list, it should be something that you would be willing to discuss with your doctor if it came down to it.

Most people will be able to avoid this surgery and get help for it through other methods, but it just isn’t always the case.

If you find that you are having too much trouble, it may be worth your while to just learn more about the surgery and find out if it is right for you or not.

It may be great for some people, and not the best option for others. Just make sure that you leave your options open so that you can ensure that you are able to get rid of your sacroiliac joint pain.

When to See Your Doctor

If you have been dealing with sacroiliac joint pain for quite some time, and haven’t been able to find relief in anything that you do- it may be time for you to go to the doctor and talk to them about it.

Some people will find that they can get rid of their symptoms without the help of a doctor, but you don’t want to let it get too far, or it may be even more complicated for you to manage down the road. This is why you shouldn’t let it go, and just dismiss it.

At the first sign of severe pain, you should make an appointment with your doctor.  If it is just somewhat painful at times, then you might can get away with trying a few more home remedies before you opt for going to the doctor.

You know your body better than most people, so it is really up to you whether you feel that it warrants a trip to the doctor or not.

Just remember, sacroiliac joint pain isn’t anything to play with. It really can get in the way of you being able to live your day to day life and get things done.

When it starts to get in the way, it really is time to get something done about it.  Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about all of your options before you decide which treatment path is best for your sacroiliac joint pain.