SACROILIAC DEFINITION

The SI (sacroiliac) joints connect the sacrum to the interior edges of the ilium (wing-shaped bones) of the pelvis. The sacrum is a triangular bone at the base of the spine, formed by five vertebrae that fuse together during childhood. The ilium looks like wings on either side, and is the uppermost and largest bone of the pelvis. Dysfunctions occur within the SI joints as a result of degenerative spine conditions such as osteoarthritis or an imbalance between the two joints caused by traumatic injury or a congenital condition.

Areas Affected by SI Joint Dysfunction

Because the SI joint is directly behind a portion of the sciatic nerve, SI dysfunction can produce symptoms similar to sciatica. The primary symptom associated with sciatica is burning or shooting pain in the lower extremities. However, unlike typical lumbar sciatica, pain originating from SI dysfunction is not produced by a compressed nerve root. Rather, it is irritation of the sciatic nerve itself that produces symptoms, or bone-on-bone grating arising from degeneration of the cartilage that separates the sacrum from the ilium. Also, pain from SI dysfunction generally does not extend below the knee. Here are the areas of the body typically affected by SI joint dysfunction:

• Lower back
• Buttocks
• Thigh
• Hip        
• Groin area

Treatment for SI Joint Dysfunction

Diagnosis of SI joint dysfunction can be difficult, because the joints are located so deeply within the body. If SI joint problems are determined to be the cause of chronic pain, treatment usually begins with painkilling sacroiliac joint block injections, which provide temporary relief from symptoms. However, if chronic pain persists after weeks or months of injections or other conservative treatment, contact Laser Spine Institute to determine whether you may be a candidate for a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure performed using revolutionary endoscopic technology. The orthopedic specialists at Laser Spine Institute have helped tens of thousands of patients rediscover their lives without back and neck pain.