Sacroiliac Joint Pain – (“SI JOINT”)

The SI Joint is a complex joint and is located where the spine and the pelvis articulate. It is a tortuous joint and in fact, the upper two-thirds of the joint is fused so does not meet the criteria for a true joint.  Pain from the SI Joint is felt in the buttock area, is typically unilateral and can refer pain down the leg (See Sciatica).

what causes sacroiliac Joint pain?

Oftentimes, the patient describes stepping of a curb suddenly or a direct fall onto the buttock on the painful side. They may complain of pain with weight bearing, going from a sitting to standing position, and pain while rolling over in bed.  Inflammation of the SI Joint, often termed sacroiliitis, can be seen as part of systemic disease such as ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis, especially when occurring on both sides.

How Can My SI Joint Pain be treated?

Injections can be used to treat your pain. Fluoroscopic guidance is utilized to infiltrate the SI joint. Like facet joints, a combination of steroids and anesthetic is used, and like facet joints, it can be both therapeutic and diagnostic. In other words, it pain relief is profound (greater than 80% reduction in pain), it confirms that the SI joint is indeed the source of pain. If you’re ready for the next steps in treating your SI joint pain, contact Austin Spine Health to schedule an appointment.