Sacroiliitis Specialist

What is sacroiliitis?

Sacroilitis causes pain on one side of your lower back or hip that might radiate to the hip, the groin or down the back of the beyond the knee. It is not accompanied by numbness or weakness. Sacroiliitis may be caused by inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, injury to the sacroiliac joint, instability of the joint during and after pregnancy, or overuse of the sacroiliac joint. Sacroiliitis is often seen after spinal fusion surgery as well. 

Your sacroiliac joints are irregularly-shaped joints connecting the pelvis to the spine, one on the right and one on the left. Unlike other joints in your body, the sacroiliac joints do not move much under normal circumstances. During pregnancy, there is a loosening of the joints to allow for childbirth. Some autoimmune disorders, like ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis can cause inflammation of the sacroiliac joints.

What are the symptoms of sacroiliitis?

Sacroiliitis typically causes pain that is most intense on one side of the lower back and extends to the “hip” area, but may also go to the groin and down the back of the leg. Your symptoms may include:

• Dull, aching sensation
• Sharp pain on one side of the lower back
• Pain when crossing the legs, jumping, climbing stairs or bending a the waist
• Tenderness in the area of pain 

If your symptoms are mild, your sacroiliitis may resolve over time with at-home care, anti-inflammatory pain relievers and physical therapy. However, if your symptoms are severe or ongoing, Pain Management Specialists can help. 

What happens during a sacroiliitis evaluation?

The board-certified interventional pain management physicians at Pain Management Specialists are experts in the evaluation and treatment of sacroiliitis. 

During your evaluation, your doctor reviews your symptoms and medical history. They perform a physical exam, paying close attention to the area where you feel the most pain and what makes the pain worse. To confirm or rule out a diagnosis, they may also request diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, but in most cases of sacroiliitis, these tests are normal.

Sometimes pain arising from the lumbar spine, sciatic nerve or hip joint mimics sacroiliitis. The interventional pain management experts at Pain Management Specialists will check your lumbar spine, hips and sciatic nerve.

How is sacroiliitis treated?

At Pain Management Specialists, your doctor creates individualized treatment plans for sciatica that focuses on providing the best possible outcomes. 

They find that most sacroiliitis patients obtain relief from their symptoms with a home exercise program, physical therapy, and cortisone injections into the sacroiliac joint. Occasionally, radiofrequency ablation is necessary to control the pain, and when that does not work, surgical fusion of the affected joint may be necessary.

For relief from your sacroiliitis, call Pain Management Specialists or make an appointment using the online booking button.