Is SI Joint Dysfunction Behind Your Chronic Lower Back Pain?

Low back pain is a frustrating problem among millions of people worldwide. It can be constant, intermittent, mild, or severe enough to interfere with normal activities.

Many conditions lead to low back pain, making it difficult to know if you need professional treatment or can manage with home care.

SI joint dysfunction is one of many causes of lower back pain. If you're dealing with pain that doesn't improve at home, Dr. Shachi Patel and the Delmarva Pain and Spine Center team offer treatments to help relieve it.

Causes of low back pain

Low back pain is a prevalent issue among many adults and even kids. It may occur after a pulled muscle while playing sports or from years of spinal degeneration.

To understand low back pain, you need to understand the spine. It's a bony structure made of vertebrae that houses the spinal cord. Between each vertebra is a spongy intervertebral disc that acts as a shock absorber.

Many nerves emerge from the spinal cord and innervate other parts of the body. When any of these structures become injured or compromised, it can lead to issues like:

Herniated discs
Spinal stenosis
Spondylolisthesis
Degenerative disc disease
Sciatica
Compression fractures

SI joint dysfunction is another common cause of low back pain. It occurs when the two SI joints on either side of the spine move too much or too little, causing pain and discomfort with movement.

Is SI joint dysfunction the culprit?

SI joint dysfunction is a cause of low back pain. Still, it's difficult for doctors to diagnose because there's not one definitive test. The pain is similar to other issues, making it even more difficult to diagnose.

However, there are some key indicators of SI joint dysfunction. For instance, only one SI joint is typically damaged, leading to one-sided back, leg, or hip pain.

There are also specific risk factors for SI joint dysfunction, including osteoarthritis, repetitive stress, and older age. Other risk factors include leg length discrepancies, prior back surgeries, and scoliosis.

If you have any of these risk factors and one-sided low back discomfort, SI joint dysfunction could be the culprit. However, it's crucial to recognize the key signs of the condition to be sure.

Key signs of SI dysfunction

The unfortunate part of SI joint dysfunction is that the symptoms mimic other conditions – but some signs signal it's the issue, and they include:

Pain that spreads to the buttocks or thighs
Pain that worsens with movement
Pain when bending, climbing stairs, or walking
Pelvic instability
Stiffness in the low back, hips, and pelvis
Significantly low back, hip, and buttocks pain after sitting for long periods
Back pain that's achy, dull, and ranges from mild to severe

Any of these symptoms may indicate SI joint dysfunction. If the pain persists, Dr. Patel orders imaging studies, such as an MRI and X-ray, to get a better look at your spine and the SI joints.

From there, she comes up with a diagnosis and treatment plan. She treats SI joint dysfunction with physical therapy, home care, and joint injections. If these don't work, she may recommend other treatments or surgery in severe cases.

To learn more about SI joint dysfunction and our treatments, schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel, call our Newark, Delaware office, or visit our website today.