Sacroiliac Joint Pain

You may not often think of your spine as having joints, but it does — many of them, in fact.

The sacroiliac (SI) joints, which connect your spine to your hips, are among the joints that may need attention. That’s because your SI joints can become quite painful, and when an SI joint hurts, it may significantly impact your daily activities. When you’re experiencing SI joint pain, turn to our spine specialists.

You have two SI joints, one on each side of the bottom of your spine. They provide support and stability and help absorb the impact of walking, running, and lifting your leg or hip. But just like other joints in your body, SI joints can suffer the effects of wear and tear or injury. When they do, you may experience pain.

Pain in the lower back is a common symptom of damage to your SI joint. Other symptoms include:

• Pain that radiates to your lower hip, groin or upper thigh
• Numbness or tingling in your leg
• Weakness in your leg

Symptoms may worsen with sitting, standing, walking, sleeping or climbing stairs.

As you age, ligaments that hold your bones together may stiffen, and cartilage that protects your joints may wear away. These changes may cause bones to rub against each other and lead to pain. A fall or other sudden trauma may also cause SI joint discomfort.

SI joint pain can mimic other conditions, such as a herniated disk in the lower back or other hip problems. So, getting an accurate diagnosis is important.

Providers can typically diagnose SI joint pain with a physical examination. They’ll talk with you about your pain, evaluate your spine and hips and review your medical history.

Providers may recommend imaging tests, such as X-rays, a CT scan or MRI, to rule out other problems and help with your diagnosis.

Sometimes, treating sacroiliac pain can be as simple as getting some rest. But many other treatment approaches can address your pain. Your provider will evaluate the severity of your joint damage and discuss the right treatment for you.

Options may include: