Chiropractic Care for SI Joint Pain

Copyright (c) 2014 LifeWorks Integrative health

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (or SI joint dysfunction) is a common cause of back pain, yet it is often overlooked. SI joint dysfunction affects 10 to 25 percent of individuals suffering with lower back issues. Located at the very base of the spine within the pelvis, the SI joint can become injured or forced out of alignment. This can lead to back pain and even sciatica. Unfortunately, conventional medical treatments for SI joint pain often fall short of providing patients with the relief they need to get back to enjoying everyday life. Fortunately, chiropractic care for SI joint pain can help provide patients with relief from this painful condition.

What is SI Joint Dysfunction?

The sacroiliac joint is located in the lower portion of the back where the spine meets the pelvis. SI joint pain is any form of discomfort that occurs in this area. Pain in the SI joint can be the result of a number of different diseases or conditions.

There are a number of different causes of SI joint pain. Pain can start in the joint or in the surrounding nerves and ligaments. Ligaments are the bands of tissues that connect one bone to another bone. Located within the SI joint are many different nerve endings; these nerves send pain signals to your brain. Here a few of the common causes of SI joint pain:

Joint infection

Trauma, like an auto accident

Osteoarthritis of the SI joint

Stress fractures, which are common in athletes

Pregnancy

Joint inflammation, which often occurs with ankylosing spondylitis

There are a number of different symptoms associated with SI joint dysfunction.

These symptoms may include:

Buttocks pain

Mild to severe lower back pain

Pelvic pain

Pain in the hip, groin or back of the thigh

Pain that radiates down the leg of the affected side

Stiffness of the lower back

Pain that increases with physical activity

Medical treatment of SI joint dysfunction depends largely on the cause of your pain.

Treatment may include:

Over-the-counter pain relievers

Prescription pain reliever

Muscle relaxants

Steroid injections

Physical therapy

Chiropractic Care for SI Joint Pain:

There are a number of different methods of chiropractic care for SI joint pain that can be helpful for those suffering from this pain. The goal of chiropractic care for SI joint pain is to utilize a method that is best tolerated by the patient and will provide the patient with the best possible outcome. Different patients are going to respond better to different treatment methods. As a result, a chiropractic may adopt various manipulations to help treat a patient's SI joint pain.

Two common practices of chiropractic care for SI joint pain include:

Traditional chiropractic adjustments, also referred to as spinal manipulations.

Gentle (less forceful) adjustments known as spinal mobilization.

Medical vs. Chiropractic Treatment of SI Joint Pain:

A 2012 literature review looked at 11 different research studies on the treatment of SI joint pain including local anesthetic injection and steroids as well as various radiofrequency therapies. All but one of those treatments were rated as having poor evidence for effectively treating pain of the SI joint.

The only medical intervention with a fair amount of evidence was a certain type of radiofrequency known as cooled radiofrequency neurotomy. This form of radiofrequency involves injecting needles to deliver frequencies that kill the nerves that cause SI joint pain. This method is considered safe and has provided pain relief for some patients. However, many patients are worried about the potential side effects of this treatment. Side effects may include bleeding, infections, numbness and nerve damage.

There are alternatives to traditional medical treatment and chiropractic care of SI joint pain just may be the route you'll want to take when attempting to find relief from this pain. A 2013 study showed that chiropractic manual therapies had a 72 percent success rates in patients dealing with SI joint pain. This is compared to a 20 percent success rate with physical therapy and a 50 percent success rate with steroid injections. Chiropractic patients are also faced with less side effects.

If you are looking a natural and drug-free way to reduce your pain, chiropractic care for SI joint pain may be the answer you have been searching for.