You have two sacroiliac joints located where your lower spine and pelvis connect. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, also known as sacroiliitis, occurs when these joints become inflamed. About ten to twenty-five percent of people experiencing lower back pain have sacroiliitis. Some medical conditions and injuries are the primary causes of sacroiliitis. SI Joint Flowood dysfunction can cause pain in your lower back and buttocks and extend down one or both legs. Standing for long periods, running, taking large strides, or stair climbing can worsen sacroiliac joint pain. Sometimes doctors mistake sacroiliitis for other causes of lower back pain.
Causes of sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Osteoarthritis
Stressing your joints over time can cause cartilages to wear down, leading to osteoarthritis. Aging leads to osteoarthritis, affecting your SI joint, spine, and other body joints.
Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammatory arthritis that affects your vertebrae and joints. Severe cases of AS can result in a new bone that fuses spine joints. AS mainly affects SI joints but can also cause inflammation in other joints. Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic disease that can cause irregular episodes of mild or severe persistent pain.
Gout
Gout is arthritis that happens when your body has high uric acid levels. It is characterized by joint pain, which sometimes can be severe. Gout primarily affects the toes but can happen in other joints, including the sacroiliac joint.
Trauma
A fall, motor vehicle accident, or other injuries to your sacroiliac joints or surrounding ligaments can cause sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a hormone known as relaxin makes the sacroiliac joint more elastic. This elasticity allows your pelvis to widen to accommodate the birth of your baby and make joints less stable. Weight gain during pregnancy and increased body motion adapting to the additional weight can cause sacroiliac joint pain. If you experience this problem during pregnancy, you are more likely to get arthritis in the SI joints.
Walking patterns
Abnormal walking can cause SI joint disease. Abnormal walking can be caused by leg length discrepancy, a fused knee, hip, or ankle, or favoring one leg due to pain. Correcting these issues can help resolve your SI joint dysfunction. During pregnancy, you may walk abnormally, leading to SI joint pain. If you resume normal walking after giving birth, your SI joint pain may heal.
Diagnosis of sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Physical examination: Your doctor can ask you to move in different positions to detect the source of your pain. The doctor can also apply pressure on the sacroiliac joint, spine, hips, or legs to determine the source of your pain.
Imaging tests: X-rays, MRI, or CT scans can help your doctor check for abnormalities in your sacroiliac joint.
Steroid injection: A steroid injection into your sacroiliac joint can be a diagnostic test. If the injection relieves pain in the sacroiliac joint, that means the joint is the source of ache.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction results from inflammation of sacroiliac joints. Doctors can treat this condition through medications or physical therapy. Schedule an appointment at Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic for sacroiliac joint dysfunction treatment to relieve your pain.
