Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can result in pain in the low back and/or buttocks. pain may also radiate down one or both legs or spread to surrounding muscles that may spasm in response to the joint dysfunction.
The symptoms of SI joint dysfunction can mimic may other causes of low back pain such as a herniated disc, osteoarthritis or lumbar degenerative disc disease. Getting an accurate diagnosis is the essential first step in finding appropriate treatment and pain relief.
The SI joints are located at the bottom of the spine.
What are the Sacroiliac (SI) joints?
the SI joints connect your hip bones to the sacrum at the very bottom of your spine. These joints are designed to provide a great deal of strength and stability.
You probably have not thought about your SI joints. They are not an obvious joint, like an elbow or knee, but they work hard throughout the day to enable and coordinate the transfer of weight from the upper to the lower body.
They are designed to allow a minimal amount of movement and are reinforced with an interconnected network of strong ligaments and tendons.
How does SI joint dysfunction develop?
SI joint dysfunction can develop if the joints move either too much or too little.
Pregnancy or injury to the ligaments, among other things, can cause too much movement to occur in the SI joints. this is known as hypermobility.
Too little movement in the joints, referred to as hypomobility, can also cause pain. these may happen as a result of degenerative joint disease such as arthritis.
Sometimes the SI joints over compensate for the problems in the nearby joints and may become painful.
for Examples, it is possible for someone who has had a lumbar spinal fusion surgery to develop SI joint pain due to reduced motion in the fused lumbar spine segments.