Sacroiliac Joint Pain Specialist

What is the sacroiliac joint?

Your sacroiliac joint connects your hip bones and sacrum to your spine. Your sacroiliac joint provides stability and supports your body weight both when you move and while you’re at rest. The joint is supported by a complex group of ligaments and muscles that also allow a small range of motion.

What causes sacroiliac joint pain?

There are many types of sacroiliac joint dysfunction that either reduce the already small range of motion in the joint or reduce its stability and overextend its range of motion.

Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of sacroiliac joint pain. Your sacroiliac joint absorbs the force of every step you take, which can accelerate the wear and tear of the cartilage that cushions the joint. When the cartilage is gone, your bones rub together without any protection, which leads to inflammation and pain and reduces your range of motion.

Pregnancy is another common cause of sacroiliac joint pain. When you’re pregnant, your body produces hormones that cause the ligaments in your hips to relax in preparation for childbirth. This allows a greater range of motion and reduced stability in the joint, which increases your risk for painful physical stress and abnormal wear on the joint.

Other types of arthritis such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis can also cause sacroiliac joint pain. You may develop sacroiliac joint pain if you have an uneven gait as well.

How is the cause of sacroiliac joint pain diagnosed?

The team of pain management experts at International Spine Pain & Performance Center diagnose sacroiliac joint dysfunction and its cause with a thorough physical exam and diagnostic imaging tests, including X-rays and MRIs.

How is sacroiliac joint pain treated?

Treatment for sacroiliac joint pain depends on the condition causing it. The physicians at International Spine Pain & Performance Center offer customized treatments, including corticosteroids joint injections to reduce inflammation, regenerative medicine treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell therapy, and physical therapy.

Your doctor creates a customized treatment plan to address your specific needs after your initial consultation. They may combine therapies and adjust your treatment plan depending on how you respond.

If you have pain in your hips, lower back, buttocks, or legs that is interfering with your life, call International Spine Pain & Performance Center or schedule an appointment online today.