Spine Associates - Back to Normal

Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain

The sacroiliac joint connects the last segment of the spine, the sacrum, to the pelvis. The integrity of the sacroiliac joint depends on strong ligaments that encase and cover the joint.  These ligaments compress and stabilize the joint.

 

 

 

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Causes

Causes of sacroiliac joint disorders can be split into five categories:

  • Traumatic (lifting, fall, accident)
  • Biomechanical (leg length discrepancy, prior lumbar fusion)
  • Hormonal (pregnancy / childbirth)
  • Inflammatory joint disease (sacroiliitis)
  • Degeneration (age related wear and tear)

Symptoms

The most common symptom of sacroiliac joint disorders is pain in the lower back, buttock and legs. This can present as sciatica like symptoms:

  • Constant pain in only one side of the buttock or leg (rarely occurs in both legs)
  • Pain that is worse when sitting
  • Leg pain that is often described as burning, tingling or searing (vs. a dull pain or ache)
  • Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
  • A sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand up or to walk

Treatment

Dr. Francis will recommend conservative, non-surgical treatment for sacroiliac joint pain whenever possible. After determining the underlying cause, he may recommend one or a combination of the following treatment options: