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DESCRIPTION:
The term sacroiliac refers to the area of a small joint that lies at the junction of the sacrum, a part of the spine, and the ilium, a part of the pelvis. Although this joint does not move very much, it is critical to transferring the load of the upper body to the lower body. A common source of low back pain, a sacroiliac injury is also linked to sciatica, hip arthritis and back pain in general. The pubic symphysis may also be involved. A confusing pattern of back and pelvic pain that mimic each other often make diagnosis of sacroiliac joint problems very difficult.
How does a sacroiliac joint injury develop?
A sacroiliac injury can result from a direct fall on the buttocks, a motor vehicle accident or even a blow to the side of the pelvis, resulting in strained and weakened, or even torn ligaments around the joint. Injured ligaments lead to excessive motion of the joint, which will eventually lead to wear-and-tear of the joint and pain from degenerative arthritis. A sacroiliac injury can also affect the articular cartilage lining the joint, which, if not treated properly, will also lead to degenerative arthritis in the joint over time.
In some individuals, pain occurs because of an abnormality of the sacrum bone itself. Here, the bones that make up the sacrum never properly fuse together. As a result, the sacroiliac joint is somewhat malformed, leading to problems in the area including back pain that appears to come from that area. Referred pain, which occurs when a ligament injury or weakness in one part of the body causes pain in another part, may also be involved.
In addition, women are at risk for developing sacroiliac joint problems as a result of childbirth. Hormones released during pregnancy that allow the connective tissues in the body to relax cause changes to the joints, making them "hypermobile," that is, extra or overly mobile. This may lead to back pain during pregnancy and, over a period of time, and particularly after several pregnancies, can eventually lead to wear-and-tear arthritis of the sacroiliac joint.
What are the symptoms of a sacroiliac joint injury?
The main symptom is a sharp or aching pain in the lower back, usually to one side. This pain is frequently felt in the groin and may extend down the back of the thigh and occasionally as far as below the knee. Sacroiliac joint pain usually increases after sitting for long periods of time and is frequently alleviated by standing or walking. Sciatic-like pain has also been reported, in which the pain travels from the sciatic nerve in the lumbar region into the buttocks, back of the thighs and, sometimes, the calf and the foot. The pain is typically caused by irritation of the nerve roots that join outside the spine to make up the sciatic nerve. Numbness, tingling or burning sensations may also be involved.
Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of a sacroiliac joint injury, but they do not address the root of the problem. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine treatments like Prolotherapy do, pain associated with a sacroiliac injury may be alleviated permanently.
Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat a sacroiliac joint injury.
Learn about the treatments for
Sacroiliac Joint Injury
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