Treatment Choices for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
What is Sacroiliitis?
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or sacroiliitis, is a painful problem in the lower back. It's a common reason for lower back pain. This happens when one or both of the joints connecting the bottom of the spine to the upper part of the pelvis become inflamed.
We have two sacroiliac joints, one on each side of the spine. When they get inflamed, it can cause pain in the lower back and buttocks. Sometimes this pain can even travel down one or both legs.
There are different treatments available to help with this condition and reduce the pain.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy (PT) can help maintain flexibility and strength in the sacroiliac joint. PT is often used along with medications. PT exercises help improve range of motion and build stability. Proper stretching is also a key part of PT to treat sacroiliitis.
Your PT routine may include stretching and strengthening exercises for the muscles in your lower back. These exercises can also help muscles that support your hips and pelvis. Other exercises may help improve the motion of the joint. Ice and heat treatments are also part of PT.
Another important part of PT is learning proper posture. Good posture may relieve unnecessary strain on your sacroiliac joint. You’ll also learn the right ways to bend, lift, and do other actions.
If sacroiliitis is compromising your ability to walk, physical therapists can provide gait training or help you learn to use walkers or other assistive devices.
Manual Therapy
Apart from exercises to strengthen and increase movement, treating sacroiliac joint dysfunction may involve manual therapy. This means using hands-on techniques to focus on specific areas, easing symptoms and enhancing mobility. Manual therapy includes methods like massage therapy and joint mobilization.
Another type of manual therapy is electrotherapy. This involves using electrical energy to stimulate soft tissue in joints that have limited movement.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
A skilled upper cervical chiropractor who has experience can use various treatments to help patients with SI joint pain. These techniques aim to reduce pain, address problem areas, align the SI joints, and offer long-lasting relief.
The goal of upper cervical chiropractic care for SI joint pain is to provide a non-invasive way to restore mobility and proper function to these joints. This type of chiropractic care aims to improve the lives of people suffering from SI joint pain by using treatment methods that ease pressure and reduce pain without relying on drugs or surgery.
Upper cervical chiropractors combine different techniques to effectively treat SI joint pain. The treatment works best when performed regularly by a trained professional over a specific period.
Upper cervical chiropractor, Dr. Brett palpating a patient
Non-surgical Spinal Decompression
Decompression therapy is a type of chiropractic treatment used to help with lower back pain caused by issues in the SI (sacroiliac) joint. This treatment doesn't involve surgery or medications, and it's usually painless—some patients even fall asleep during the sessions.
During non-surgical spinal decompression, the affected area is gently stretched and relaxed. This helps to create more space between the SI joints and the pelvis, which can reduce pressure and strain on the joints, muscles, and ligaments.
Athletes, active individuals, and those suffering from SI joint pain often use this technique. Patients report feeling immediate relief during the sessions and find long-lasting benefits from continuing the treatment. Most people don't experience discomfort during the sessions and can get back to their daily activities right after.
Spinal decompression doesn't disrupt your daily life. It's done in a chiropractor's office by a trained professional. Chiropractors who use this treatment have successfully helped patients manage and reduce SI joint pain.
A typical session lasts around 30 to 45 minutes and is usually done weekly for about four to eight weeks, depending on how severe the problem is.
Before You Start Therapy…
Before starting treatment for your back pain, your doctor needs to identify the specific cause. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can mimic symptoms similar to those of a herniated disk or sciatica (a nerve problem affecting the lower back), making it tricky to diagnose.
To diagnose sacroiliac joint dysfunction, your doctor may use X-rays or MRI scans of the affected area. Another method involves injecting a numbing medication into the joints to see if it reduces discomfort. If these injections provide relief, it's likely that sacroiliac joint dysfunction is the issue.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, you and your doctor can then discuss the best treatment options for your condition.
Reference
Laslett M. (2008). Evidence-based diagnosis and treatment of the painful sacroiliac joint. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 16(3), 142–152. https://doi.org/10.1179/jmt.2008.16.3.142
Disclaimer:
Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Corrections to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or products you obtain through this article or others.
