Dealing with pain and dysfunction in your SI Joint, diagnosis through injections, and coping with the pain through exercise and other means

Pain and Dysfunction in the SI Joint: The SI, or Sacroiliac join is located at the bottom of ones back and sit between the sacrum and ilia, making up the rear part of the pelvic girdle. The SI joint allows for the twisting and movement in the pelvic area and keeps the area from maintaining any damage during movement. Pain in this area can be common to many individuals. Most dysfunction causing the pain in the SI joint is due to mechanical reasons but there are also associated problems such as inflammation that can cause pain in the area. The symptoms of pain associated with possible SI joint dysfunction can be described as pain on either side of your lower back. Often times this pain is described as a sharp pain or a dull ache. Either type of pain may restrict ones movement. The pain associated with the SI joint can also be pain which radiates over your buttocks into the groin area. One can have trouble sitting for long periods of time, tying shoes, or even standing up after sitting for long periods of time.

Diagnosis through Injections: Because the SI joint is critical in transferring the load of your upper body to your lower body, it is important to diagnose injury to this area. However, injury to the SI joint can be hard to diagnose and while one may be certain they have a problem in the area, many tests such as CAT scans and X-rays will come back negative for injury and still leave individuals skeptical about the real cause of their pain. One way to diagnose the injury is through the use of injections. The injections are placed into the SI joint and temporarily relieve pain in the area; the medication injected is an anesthetic medication which numbs the area. If your pain goes away for several hours then your doctor will know that the SI joint is in fact the area where your pain in concentrated. It is important to remember that this is simply a diagnostic tool and will not provide permanent pain relief, it will however provide your doctor with the right information for diagnostics and starting a treatment plan.

Treatment for the SI Joint: Many conditions affecting the SI joint can be dealt with through an anti-inflammatory medication. While this may ease the pain and help with most injuries to the SI joint, there are times when further precautions must be taken. Often your doctor will tell you to avoid the activity which injured the joint in the first place, if you are an athlete you may know what caused the injury but other individuals may be unaware of what activities exactly they should avoid. For this reason, doctors may also suggest the wearing of a sacroiliac belt. This belt may ease ones pain by wrapping around the SI joint, holding it in place, and aiding in the prevention of excessive movement and further damage.

Prevention and Treatment through Exercise Because the SI Joint is not made for a large range of movement, the area can suffer injury and sometimes lock-up with age. In order to deal with pain in the SI joint or to prevent pain there in the future, exercise is greatly recommended to strength and stretches the area. The butterfly stretch and stretching by placing your knee into your chest are both stretches which can help strengthen and stretch the SI joint. While there are many more exercises you can do, it is important to remember to research the stretches, ensure you are doing them right, and make sure you have the permission of your physician in order to prevent further damage. No one has to live permanently with pain in their SI joint, proper diagnosis and a complete treatment plan is essential in dealing with this type of pain and injury.