Sciatica, spinal stenosis, muscle strains, herniated discs — these are all common conditions that account for more than their fair share of low back pain, which affects about 80% of Americans at some point.
One condition that’s not discussed as much is sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction, but that’s changing given that this condition is likely behind between 15% and 30% of cases of low back pain.
If you’re struggling with low back pain, as well as pain that shoots down into your lower extremities, it’s time to explore whether SI joint dysfunction is to blame. To shed some light on this common issue, we turn to the skilled team of spine experts at Johnston Pain Management, and here’s what they want you to know.
To understand how SI joint dysfunction can lead to low back pain, it’s helpful to first understand the incredibly important role your SI joints play in your musculoskeletal system.
At the bottom of your lumbar spine is a triangular piece of bone called your sacrum, which is the primary connection point between your upper and lower body. More specifically, this piece of bone attaches your spine to the crests on either side of your hip bones (the iliac crests) and is designed to provide shock absorption between your upper and lower body.
The attachment points between your sacrum and your hip bones are your SI joints — there is one on each side. Strong ligaments and muscle groups like your gluteus maximus further support these joints.
Under normal circumstances, your SI joints don’t provide much mobility, so they don’t move very much. When SI joints malfunction, it typically boils down to one of two issues:
If your SI joints are too loose, it can lead to hypermobility and instability, which can lead to low back pain. Hypermobile SI joints can also lead to hip and groin pain.
On the other end of the spectrum are SI joints that are too tight, which is called hypomobility. If this occurs, the tension can lead to sciatica-like symptoms in your low back (mainly pain), as well as symptoms that radiate down into one side of your buttocks and into one leg.
As you might imagine, getting to the right diagnosis is an important step on the road to relief.
If, after a comprehensive diagnostic review, we find that your low back pain is tied to SI joint dysfunction, we can take action to relieve the pain.
For example, we offer a wide range of pain management options that can relieve your immediate discomfort, such as medications or spine injections.
While these options are great for relieving your symptoms, we also want to work toward correcting the underlying SI joint dysfunction. In most cases, physical therapy is a great tool that works well to improve balance and support in your low back and pelvis.
We may also recommend chiropractic care to address any spinal misalignments that can exacerbate SI joint dysfunction.
Between our pain management tools and the complementary steps you take to strengthen and align your spine, we feel confident that we can successfully treat your SI joint issue.
To determine whether your low back pain is caused by SI joint dysfunction or another issue, contact us at one of our conveniently located offices in Jacksonville, Hampstead, or New Bern, North Carolina, to schedule a consultation.
