Sacro iliac joint disorder
What is it?
The sacro-iliac joints are located on either sides of your lower spine. They join the base of your spine (sacrum) to your pelvis (ilium). The sacro-iliac joints provide stability and act as a shock absorber when you walk or run. The sacro-iliac joints can become inflamed or damaged causing pain in your lower back.
Symptoms
The pain in your lower back is usually on one side but it can be on both. You may feel a dull ache or a sharp pain around your buttocks, groin or back of your thigh. Some people have problems walking up stairs and rolling over in bed. You may also feel pain after sitting for long periods.
Causes
There are a number of causes of sacro-iliac joint disorder, including:
- hormonal changes during pregnancy
- being hit in your lower back
- side-to-side movement of the pelvis when running
- running on uneven ground
- poor fitting shoes
- differences in leg length
Treatment
You can buy painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat mild to moderate pain. Your GP may prescribe stronger painkillers if your pain is severe. As well as easing your pain, painkillers may help to reduce any inflammation and swelling. Always read the patient information that comes with your medicine, and if you have questions ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice.
If your injury is more severe, you may need physiotherapy. Your physiotherapist may use techniques such as stretching and massage therapy to reduce muscle tightness. Taping or strapping is sometimes used to help support the joint when exercising. Your physiotherapist will develop a programme of exercises gradually to strengthen the muscles around your sacro-iliac joint.
If your symptoms don't improve, you may need to have a steroid injection into the sacro-iliac joint. This will help to relieve pain and inflammation.
Do
- Follow the PRICE procedure.
Don't
- Do any exercise that causes pain to the sacro-iliac joint
- Ignore the pain or delay treatment
Peer reviewed by David Millard, GOSC, Bupa Sports Medicine osteopath
Publication date: June 2009
