The Things You Should Know About Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation

Have you been having difficulty sleeping, turning, or bending over lately? Are you constantly plagued by sharp pains in the lower back? If so, you could be suffering from sacroiliac joint inflammation - not exactly something you want to be stuck with over the Christmas holidays.

Now, you might be wondering what the sacroiliac joints even are. They are two ‘L-shaped’ joints are situated at the lower back, between the pelvic ilium and the sacrum (the small wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of your spine), and are held in place by various muscles and ligaments. Their function is to enable you to move your pelvis - sacroiliac joints get pulled and twisted along the pelvic girdle whenever you move your lower back.

When these joints get infected, they can cause stabbing pains in the lower back, the buttocks, and even the thighs on occasion. This inflammation can occur when one half of the pelvis is constantly driven backwards and forwards, or at times when the joints get stuck.

While small infections of the sacroiliac joints and associated ligaments are quite common, the more sever forms of sacroiliitis tend to occur more frequently with aging. The main causes of sacroiliitis are degenerative arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis of the spine) which leads to the deterioration of the sacroiliac joints; pregnancy, as it forces the pelvis to stretch to accommodate childbirth; or some form of sudden impact or traumatic injury to the spine or pelvic region. But do not worry: sacroiliitis is treatable, as long as you are sure to visit osteopath as soon as you notice any of its defining symptoms.

The most common symptoms of sacroiliac joint inflammation are: - Restricted hip movement (making it difficult to turn around or roll over in bed) - Having a stiff lower back after extended periods of remaining still or sedentary (i.e. after long car journeys), or when getting up in the morning - Having trouble bending down - Experiencing pain during sexual intercourse - Sharp pains in your thighs when moving your legs in a specific way (swinging them over the bed or out of the car)

If you find that you have any of these symptoms, it is important that you go see an osteopath, as they will have an in-depth knowledge of the workings of the sacroiliac joint. Here are some things you can try on your own to try and ease some of the pain: - Try sleeping on your side at night (instead of your back or stomach). - Try placing a pillow in between your knees when sitting or lying down. This should take some pressure of the pelvis. - Take an icepack, wrap it in a damp tea towel, and place it on the inflamed region for periods of 10 minutes on and off for half an hour. Do this for up to three times a day.

While sacroiliac joint inflammation can be a real pain in the back, osteopaths can help cure the problem effectively through a combination of physical therapeutic techniques and anti-inflammatory medication. So as long as you visit your osteopath and nurture your body, you should be fit and healthy for the upcoming holiday season.