It is a type of pain in the lower back that can be confused with a herniated disc. It causes pain and limitation in forward and side movement, and pain in the hip area when sitting for a long time.
What is the sacroiliac joint?
The sacroiliac joint is the joint located between the pelvic bone and the coccyx and connects the spine and the hip. The hip bone is called the ilium, and the coccyx is called the sacrum. The word sacroiliac comes from here. The sacroiliac joint, which is the least mobile joint in our body, especially absorbs the forces that occur during activities such as running. Damage to this joint can also cause sacroiliac joint pain. Pain in the sacroiliac joints is more common in the lower back.
What causes sacroiliac joint pain?
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction causes pain in the waist and hips. The main cause of pain is damage or trauma to the sacroiliac joint. Sacroiliac joint pain can often resemble a herniated disc. The causes of sacroiliac joint pain can be listed as follows:
- Excessive heavy lifting,
- sudden bending forward,
- Reverse movement
- Falling down
- Traffic accidents and accidents causing trauma,
- Pregnancy and birth,
- Previous hip and spine surgeries
Sacroiliac joint pain symptoms
- Sacroiliac joint pain is usually felt in the lower back, lower hips, and groin.
- Although it is more commonly seen as one-sided, it can affect both sides.
- Numbness and tingling sensations may occur in the leg.
- Actions such as sitting, sleeping, walking, climbing stairs, and standing may worsen the pain.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Sacroiliac joint pain can be diagnosed with plain radiography, CT and MRI scans. After diagnosis, ice is applied to the area where the pain occurs 3-4 times a day for the first two or three days of treatment and the patient’s complaints are relieved with painkillers. In cases where these treatments are not sufficient, local anesthetic and steroid are first injected into the nerves going to the sacroiliac joint under imaging. If the patient benefits from injection therapy, radiofrequency thermocoagulation therapy can be applied under imaging.