Sacroiliitis – Dealing with sacroiliac joint pain

By: arpita

• Health Ailments

March 11, 2010

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Sacroiliac joints are present at the bottom of the spine between the tailbone and the hipbone. On either side of the spine, a sacroiliac joint connects the lower part of the spine to the pelvis. Swelling of either or both the sacroiliac joints causes sacroiliitis. Sacroiliitis is an extremely painful and debilitating condition. A person suffering from this disorder of the sacroiliac joints would experience intense pain even with minimal movement of the spine.

Causes of sacroiliitis

Several factors might cause inflammation of the sacroiliac joints. Sacroiliitis is closely linked with spondyloarthropathies such as ankylosing spondylitis. It might develop in people suffering from certain autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis.

Loss in the bone mass is a part of the aging process. Degeneration of the body joints causes arthritis. If osteoarthritis develops in the sacroiliac joints, the affected joint would swell, producing sacroiliitis.

Spine injury is perhaps the most common cause of sacroiliitis. Certain infections could trigger inflammation of the sacroiliac joints. People suffering from endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart, might suffer from sacroiliitis if the infection spreads to the sacroiliac joints. The bacteria causing urinary tract infection might spread to the sacroiliac joints, causing sacroiliitis. The risk of sacroiliitis developing from an infection is greatest among illicit drug users, who administer drugs with unsterilized needles.

To facilitate childbirth, the pelvis expands during delivery. In rare cases, the expansion of the pelvis might cause inflammation of the sacroiliac joints.

Symptoms of sacroiliitis

Symptoms of sacroiliitis include pain in the lower back, buttock and thigh. Slightest movement tends to worsen the pain. The joint becomes stiff. The pain tends to move from the pelvic downwards towards the legs. Walking becomes extremely difficult. Fever, psoriasis and swollen eyes could also occur.

Sacroiliitis treatment

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for reducing the pain. To reduce the inflammation and prevent damage of the sacroiliac joints, corticosteroids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are usually recommended. Until the pain heals, you should rest your spine and sacroiliac joints. After the pain subsides, stretching and moderate range of motion exercises and physical therapy could reduce joint stiffness and facilitate movement.

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