Sacroiliac joint pain is one of the lesser-known joint conditions. This doesn’t make it any less painful or hindering, but it might be harder to recognize when you have it, which is why it’s so important to understand the condition.

In this article, we will talk about the sacroiliac joint, its function, potential causes of pain in the area, and your treatment options. Stay with us if you’d like to learn more about sacroiliac joint pain and find the best pain relief options.

Understanding the sacroiliac joint

When it comes to joints, the ones that first come to mind are the knees, shoulders, elbows, and probably the wrists. The sacroiliac joint – often referred to as the SI joint or SIJ – is less apparent than those.

We can find it in the pelvis, connecting the sacrum and the ilia. Its function is vital, as it bears the weight of the entire upper body, transfers torque and acts as a shock absorber for the spine.

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is often confused with other lower back conditions. The pain might appear in the lower back and the buttocks and radiate to the legs, groin, or hips. So, sometimes it might be hard to pinpoint the source of the pain.

What causes sacroiliac joint pain?

Sacroiliac joint pain can stem from many different conditions. We will take a look at the most common ones.

Injury or trauma

The SI joint has a shock-absorbing function, but it has its limits. The force of a fall or an accident could cause damage to the joint, which might lead to acute or chronic pains.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a term that encompasses many different joint conditions. Some of these could affect the sacral joints as well.

Osteoarthritis, a wear-and-tear disease, might sometimes appear in the SI joints. Systemic inflammatory arthritides like rheumatoid arthritis could also cause sacrum pain. Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that causes inflammation in the spinal joints, and can affect the sacral area as well.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy and delivery, the sacroiliac joint is subject to extreme stress. Its weight-bearing function becomes even more important, the changes in movement may put more stress on the joints, and the joint has to loosen and stretch to give space during delivery. These may lead to sacral pain.

Infection

In some cases, local or systemic infections might affect the sacroiliac joint. When this occurs, we might experience other symptoms, like fever, besides the joint pain.

Inflammatory conditions

SIJ pain might also result from some inflammatory diseases or autoimmune conditions. Lupus, for example, is one of the autoimmune diseases that attacks the joints as well. These systemic conditions usually come with a plethora of other symptoms.

Diagnosing sacroiliac joint dysfunction

Diagnosing SI joint dysfunction might be challenging, as its symptoms are similar to other lower back conditions.

Doctors usually perform multiple tests, like orthopedic provocations and X-ray or MRI imaging, to pinpoint the cause of pain. One surefire way to diagnose sacroiliac joint pain is to inject numbing agent directly into the joint. If the pain goes away, that indicates that the cause lies within the joint.

Treatment options for sacroiliac joint pain

The course of treatment for SI pain depends on the underlying cause. Different conditions might call for different treatment methods.

Medications for SI joint dysfunction

OTC or prescription painkillers can provide reliable pain relief.

Sacroiliac dysfunction might also cause muscle spasms which could be treated with muscle-relaxing drugs.

If you are dealing with an autoimmune condition, doctors might recommend DMARDs or immunosuppressants.

In some cases, doctors might use corticosteroid injections to alleviate pain, inflammation, and joint stiffness. The effect of these injections usually lasts for an extended period of time.

Physical therapy

Certain exercises for SI joint pain can help manage your symptoms. Physical therapists can teach you the right exercises for your condition. Gentle stretches might reduce pain and improve mobility. And strengthening the muscles around the painful area can help stabilize the joint and reduce stress.

When dealing with SI joint pain, it’s crucial to keep a proper posture, as this will help distribute weight more evenly and reduce the load on the painful joint. So, improving your posture could be another way to relieve sacroiliac joint pain.

You might also consider changing your routine movements and investing in an ergonomic office chair and a mattress. These can reduce stress on the SI joint during everyday activities.

Alternative remedies for sacroiliac joint dysfunction

Some alternative pain relief methods can effectively supplement your pain management routine.

Allowing the painful joints to rest and avoiding further stress is always advisable when dealing with joint pains.

Heat and cold therapy is a science-backed and effective method that might help ease lesser pains, and it doesn’t interfere with traditional drugs.

Some herbal remedies might also reduce pain and inflammation. Capsaicin and menthol for example.

You can also use drug-free pain patches, like our Freedom patch, in addition to or in place of standard painkillers. Our innovative vibrotactile technology brings pain relief without the side effects of drugs.