Joint pains are commonly felt by everyone at some point in their life. If you are feeling a sharp pain near the joint of your spine and hips, it could be Sacroiliac joint pain. This stabbing pain radiates to all other parts of your body like your hips, things, lower back, and legs. You might wonder what Sacroiliac joint pain is. Read on to understand better.
What is Sacroiliac Joint Pain?
Before discussing the joint pain, we need to understand where our Sacroiliac Joint is. It is located at the meeting point of our sacrum bone and ilium bone. At the bottom of our spine, we have a triangle bone, which is called the sacrum, and among three of our hip bones, one is called the ilium.
All the bones of the Sacroiliac Joint bear our body weight. Fluids between these bones keep them lubricated. We can also find nerve endings between these spaces, which send signals to our brain if the pain is felt. All the bones in Sacroiliac Joint are aligned. If anything breaks the alignment, we feel severe pain.
What are the Causes of Sacroiliac Joint Pain?
Inflammation in our Sacroiliac Joint causes severe pain. This condition can be triggered by various reasons. Some of which are;
1. Osteoarthritis
When our Sacroiliac Joint feels regular stress for years, its cartilage wears out. It leads to Osteoarthritis. As we grow old, Osteoarthritis affects our Sacroiliac Joint, spinal cord, and other parts of our body.
2. Ankylosing spondylitis
It is a condition where our spinal joints and vertebrae get affected due to inflammation. It causes stinging pain around the area. In some rare cases, we can see abnormal bone growth in the joints of our spine. Ankylosing spondylitis affects our Sacroiliac Joint primarily.
It can also damage our other joints along with our eyes. It is a chronic disease that can cause mild to severe pain that stays for years. The pain can be frequently seen in young men and women.
3. Gout
If you have a high level of uric acid, you may suffer from gout arthritis. In this condition, you feel severe joint pain and numbness. Though it affects our toes first, the problem can damage all our joints, including the Sacroiliac Joint.
4. Injury or accident
Accidents can happen with anyone, anytime, and anywhere. As a prolonged result of an accident, you may get Sacroiliac Joint pain. Accidents can cause a sudden pressure on our Sacroiliac Joint, which can even result in dislocation. Thus, it can trigger Sacroiliac Joint pain. If you want the best treatment for Sacroiliac Joint pain, do visit Central Texas Spine Institute and get the best results. It is one of the most reputed spine centers in the US that ensures quick recovery.
5. Pregnancy
To give birth, our pelvis needs to be widened more than its natural capacity. That is why during pregnancy, a hormone called Relaxin gets released into our body, increasing the elasticity of our pelvis. It also causes less stability in the surrounding muscles.
When all these are combined with the weight of a baby and our new-gained weight, the Sacroiliac Joint feels excessive pressure, triggering pain. If you are feeling this pain during pregnancy, you may get arthritis in your Sacroiliac Joints. With each future pregnancy, the risk increases.
6. Walking style
Sometimes, your walking pattern can trigger Sacroiliac Joint pain. We walk abnormally due to many reasons. Some have one leg shorter than the other, which makes them walk abnormally.
People having a weaker leg also use the other leg to avoid pain. All these walking styles can cause Sacroiliac Joint pain. Correcting the style can give you some relief from the pain.
How can we treat Sacroiliac Joint pain?
Therapy
Most of the time, therapy can be used to treat the pain. During the session, your joints will be stimulated using advanced instruments to ease out the pain.
Exercise
Regular exercise can heal your pain and make the muscles stronger. You can also try yoga for better results.
Hot and cold pack
If you are feeling stabbing pain near your Sacroiliac Joint, you can use a cold pack to reduce the pain. When the pain is tolerable, apply a heating pad for maximum comfort. You can also take a warm bath.
Sacroiliac belt
Using a Sacroiliac belt to provide extra support to your joints is a great idea. This belt will bear your body weight and give your joints rest and healing time.
Medication
If your pain is not reduced after using all kinds of home remedies, your doctor may give you some medication to reduce the muscle inflammation. These will relax your muscles and heal the pain gradually. Sometimes oral steroids are also used for temporary relief. Injections and radiofrequency ablation can also be used to soothe the pain-causing nerves.
Surgery
Surgery is the last option. Some plates and screws will be used to hold your Sacroiliac Joints together. It is done for severe cases.
Conclusion
So, these are all the things you need to know about Sacroiliac Joint pain and its treatments. With a healthy lifestyle, you can avoid this condition. But, if you feel the pain, immediately call your doctor. With proper treatment, it can be healed completely. So, visit the best doctor and get yourself checked.
