What is SI joint dysfunction?

Everything you need to know about your sacroiliac joints.

How the SI joint works

You have two SI joints, one on each side of your pelvis. They connect the bone at the bottom of your spine with the other bones on the side of your pelvis. Healthy SI joints help to absorb the shock from:

  • Bending

  • Walking

  • Twisting

  • Jumping

  • Stepping

  • Landing

Symptoms of SI joint dysfunction

Whether it’s from an injury or simply the aging process, your SI joints can become inflamed or damaged. This is because there are so many nerve endings and the damage to them can cause a lot of pain.

Unfortunately, diagnosing SI joint dysfunction can be difficult because the pain that comes along with it often feels very similar to other types of low back pain. There are a few signs that your pain may be caused by your SI joints:

  • Pain in your lower back or buttocks

  • Pain when you climb stairs

  • Pain when you sit

  • Pain when you lie down to sleep

Causes of SI joint dysfunction

There are many ways the SI joints could get inflamed or injured, and sometimes you may be diagnosed with SI joint pain without a clear cause.

Sacroiliitis

This means the SI joints are inflamed with no specific injury as the cause. When you have sacroiliitis, the pain often extends down into the legs and buttocks, and gets worse when you stand for a long period of time.

Osteoarthritis

This happens when cartilage protecting your joints gets worn away, causing bones to rub together. When this happens to your SI joints, it frequently causes lower back pain.

Injury

Any time you experience an injury to your back or pelvis, your SI joints may be affected. Some of the most common causes are falls, car accidents, and sports injuries.

Walking pattern

Anything that makes you walk differently than normal can put stress on your SI joints. Potential causes of an altered walking pattern might include ankle or knee injuries, having one leg longer than the other, or a condition such as scoliosis.

Infection

Although rare, it is possible for your SI joints to become infected. If this happens, you may also experience fever and intense pain in the thighs when walking. If you have these symptoms, see a doctor right away.

Lumbar fusion treatment

Many people with SI joint pain have already had a lumbar fusion procedure. This type of operation changes how your spine distributes weight, so it can lead to SI joint stress.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the ligaments in your pelvis stretch out, meaning your SI joints may move more than they should and potentially cause pain. For most women, the ligaments will return to their normal elasticity, but for some women they remain loose which may lead to continued pain.

No matter the cause of your SI joint pain, there are many treatment options that can help to improve and manage your symptoms.

Check Out Treatment Options