Your Sacramento Chiropractor

Sacroiliitis is an inflammation of either or both of the sacroiliac joints found in the lower back. These joints connect your lower spine and pelvis.

Sacroiliitis can be hard to identify. Symptoms resemble a herniated disk, strained muscles and sciatic nerve pain. A disease called spondyloarthropathies also has many of the same symptoms. Spondyloarthropathies is a cause of inflammatory arthritis in the spine.

Someone with sacroiliitis is likely to experience buttock pain, back stiffness,and possibly pain in the thighs. Even small movements can cause discomfort in the buttocks, lower back and possibly even the thighs.

Pain gets worse when you walk because you put strain on your sacroiliac joints. You’ll probably find yourself limping.

There are a lot of different ways to get sacroiliitis. Often, it happens after an accident or incident that injures the spine, pelvis, buttocks or lower back. Being pregnant will stretch the pelvis, which can result in sacroiliitis. Certain types of infections may also be responsible. As mentioned above, arthritis associated with spondyloarthropathies can be another cause.

There are number of options to consider in treating sacroiliitis. The most appropriate option depends on how severe the condition has become.

Resting is always a good idea. It not only allows your body time to heal, but it reduces any chance of making your condition worse

You can do exercises that will help you improve your range of motion while reducing pain.

Doctors generally recommend a number of medications to treat sacroiliitis. Typically, these medications include corticosteroids, NSAIDs, DMARDs and TNF inhibitors.

Corticosteroids reduce pain and inflammation. They also slow joint damage, but shouldn’t be used for extended periods of time or they can cause serious side effects.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS are effective pain relievers because they reduce inflammation and swelling. These drugs have been known to cause side effects, including stomach bleeding, indigestion, high blood pressure and kidney and liver damage.

Some patients are more likely to experience a stroke or heart attack when they take NSAIDs, so always consult your doctor first.

Two common NSAIDs used to treat sacroiliitis are naproxen and indomethacin.

DMARDs are another type of medication that’s used to limit joint damage. DMARD is an abbreviation for disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. They work best when used in the early stages because they slow down the disease and help prevent permanent joint damage.

Lastly, there are TNF inhibitors. These reduce stiffness, swelling and pain by blocking a cell protein that can cause inflammation.

Unfortunately, these medications can cost a lot of money, so they’re usually used only as a last resort.

However, sometimes buttock pain and back pain caused by sacroiliitis can be so extreme that patients will pay the expense.

Many people who endure aches and pains as they get older simply assume such discomfort is a natural part of getting older. This can be a dangerous assumption. Anyone experiencing any type of back pain or buttock pain, especially sacroiliitis should see their doctor for a diagnosis.

As is the case with so many other disorders, sacroiliitis is easier to treat in the early stages before permanent joint damage occurs.

[resource]Related topics: sacroiliitis causes and buttock pain and sciatica. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and TV talk show host. To read more of his articles, click on coping with buttock pain.