Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Is Your Back Pain Actually Coming From Your SI Joint?
Pain near the dimples of your lower back? Discomfort while climbing stairs, turning in bed, standing on one leg or getting up from a chair? The problem may not always be your spine. Sometimes, the sacroiliac (SI) joint deserves attention. Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical advice. Many patients assume that every episode of back pain must be due to a slipped disc, lumbar spondylosis or sciatica. But there is another possible source of pain that often goes unrecognised: the sacroiliac joint. The challenge? SI joint pain can look remarkably similar to other causes of lower back pain. And treating the wrong structure may lead to months of frustration, unnecessary investigations and treatments that fail to address the real problem. The good news is that a careful clinical assessment can help identify whether the SI joint is contributing to the pain—and guide an appropriate treatment plan. What is...