Chiropractic

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction and Sciatica

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a sharp, stabbing pain radiating from the pelvis and hips down into the lower back or lumbar spine and throughout the legs. Patients might experience tingling sensations or numbness. The sacroiliac joint is generally attributed to causing between 15 to 30 percent of chronic low back pain cases. Approximately 80 percent of adults will experience some type of low back pain throughout their lifetimes. Low back pain is also ultimately considered to be one of the most general causes of disability as well as the most common cause of missed workdays. Β 

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What are the Sacroiliac Joints?

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The sacroiliac joints are situated where the sacrum and ilium come together. The sacrum is the triangle-shaped bone close to the base of the spine, just over the coccyx or the tailbone. The ilium is at the top of the pelvis, among the three bones that make up the hip structure. The sacroiliac joints support the human body’s weight, maintaining it around the pelvis. This reduces pressure and functions as a shock absorber. The bones of the sacroiliac joints are all jagged to remain in alignment. Β 

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Gaps between the sacroiliac joints’ bones are filled with lubrication fluid. These gaps are also filled with free nerve endings which are in charge of transmitting pain signals. It may be debilitating when the sacroiliac joints come out of alignment. All the bones at the sacroiliac joints are connected by muscles and ligaments, which promote stability and permit limited motion. This motion is essential for women to give birth and for people to stay standing vertically. Β 

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What Causes Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?

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Irritation, swelling, or inflammation of one or more sacroiliac joints is commonly referred to as sacroiliac joint dysfunction, sacroiliac joint disease, or sacroilitis. Moreover, sacroiliac joint dysfunction or disease may cause sacroiliitis. This can be a health issue that encompasses a variety of other injuries and/or underlying conditions. These include: Β 

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  • Walking patterns
  • Injury
  • Gout
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Pregnancy

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What are the Symptoms of SI Joint Dysfunction?

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Every person experiences symptoms of SI joint dysfunction differently, and the signs can vary from person to person, depending on the source of the sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Common signs and symptoms of SI joint dysfunction include: Β 

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  • low back pain
  • pain in the buttocks, hips, and pelvis
  • pain in the groin
  • painful symptoms in the SI joints
  • pain when standing from a sitting position
  • stiffness
  • burning sensations
  • weakness
  • numbness
  • pain radiating down into the thighs and legs
  • feeling like the legs may buckle and not support the weight of the body

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How is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Diagnosed?

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SI joint dysfunction can be hard to diagnose. Because the joints are situated deep within the human body, it often makes it difficult for healthcare professionals to diagnose the health issue properly. Moreover, damage due to trauma or injury to the sacroiliac joints doesn’t appear on imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, or X-rays. The signs and symptoms are much like other health issues, such as sciatica, bulging or herniated discs, and arthritis of the hip. The healthcare professional may perform a variety of tests so as to diagnose SI joint dysfunction and determine other health issues, including: Β 

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  • Healthcare professionals frequently utilize provocative tests to determine whether the painful symptoms are originating from the SI joint. The maneuvers are utilized to isolate the SI joint as the source of pain.
  • Injecting a numbing drug and/or medication, such as lidocaine, into the sacroiliac joint. This can ultimately help determine if the patient has an SI joint health issue if the painful symptoms are reduced after a brief period of time.
  • Imaging tests, including X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.

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Diagnosing SI Joint Disorders – Provocative Testing

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How is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Treated?

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Physical therapy, chiropractic care, stretches, and exercises, such as yoga and massage, can help stabilize and strengthen the SI joints and alleviate painful symptoms. Another treatment suggestion involves the utilization of cold packs for pain relief. Utilize heat with a heating pad or heat wrapping, or soak in a warm bath after the painful symptoms are more manageable. It is also possible to put on a sacroiliac belt to help support the sacroiliac joint, which might help alleviate painful symptoms. Β 

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Medicine and Non-surgical Treatment

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If sacroiliac joint dysfunction signs and symptoms can’t be managed with physical therapy, chiropractic care, stretches and exercises, and/or massage, or whether an underlying health issue brings it on, your healthcare professional may recommend the utilization of medicine and non-surgical treatment. These treatment approaches can include: Β 

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  • anti-inflammatory medications, including nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • muscle relaxants
  • oral steroids, but only for short-term utilization
  • tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNF inhibitors)
  • corticosteroid injections
  • Radiofrequency ablation, which utilizes energy to deactivate the nerves that are causing pain and discomfort

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Healthcare professionals consider surgery to be the last resort for sacroiliac joint dysfunction if none of the other treatment approaches mentioned above helped reduce painful symptoms. With sacroiliac joint surgery, small plates and screws are utilized to hold the SI joint together so the bones fuse or grow together. The healthcare professional may suggest this surgery if the pain and discomfort become constant and other treatment approaches haven’t been effective. Furthermore, it’s fundamental for patients to receive a diagnosis to follow up with treatment for their SI joint dysfunction.

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Differential Diagnosis of Hip Pain and Discomfort

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Sacroiliac, or SI, joint dysfunction is believed to be a common cause of low back pain and hip/thigh/leg pain. Because of the painful symptoms along the lower extremities, SI joint dysfunction may feel similar to sciatica. However, sciatica is caused by the compression or impingement of the sciatic nerve. Accurately diagnosing sacroiliac joint dysfunction can be difficult. A positive diagnosis for SI joint dysfunction is generally determined through the utilization of provocative testing and/or an injection. Proper diagnosis is important for proper treatment. – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight

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Fibromyalgia Magazine

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The purpose of the article was to discuss SI joint dysfunction and sciatica. SI joint dysfunction is often confused with the symptoms of sciatica, however, diagnosis and treatment differ for this health issue. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal and nervous health issues as well as functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 . Β 

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Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez Β 


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Additional Topic Discussion: Severe Sciatica

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Back pain is one of the most prevalent causes of disability and missed days at work worldwide. Back pain is attributed to the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at least once throughout their life. Your spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles, among other soft tissues. Injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such asΒ herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of sciatica or sciatic nerve pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of painful symptoms; however, sometimes, the simplest of movements can have these results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease sciatic nerve pain, or sciatica, through the utilization of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief. Β 

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Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction and Sciatica" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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