SI Joint Pain

SI joint pain is a common but often overlooked condition affecting the sacroiliac (SI) joint that connects your spine to your pelvis. The SI joint forms where two bones meet — the triangular sacrum bone at the bottom of your spine and the iliac bone at the top of your pelvis.

The bones in your SI joints have rough, sharp edges that help them stay in the correct place. In the spaces between the bones, there’s some lubricating fluid and a collection of nerve endings. If something disturbs your SI joint’s alignment, it can put pressure on the nerves and result in SI joint pain.

the sacroiliac (SI) joint that connects your spine to your pelvis in pain

What causes SI joint pain?

Sacroiliitis (inflammation in one or both of your SI joints) is a likely reason for your pain. Sacroiliitis is often a result of SI joint dysfunction, where the SI joints move too much or too little.

  • Hypermobility or instability: Hypermobility means there’s too much movement in your sacroiliac joint, making your pelvis feel unstable. This type of SI joint pain tends to radiate into your lower back, hip, and groin.
  • Hypomobility or fixation: Hypomobility means there’s too little movement in your sacroiliac joint, which causes muscle tension and pain and could affect your mobility. Hypomobile SI joint pain often affects one side of your lower back and is similar to sciatica, as it may spread to your buttocks down one leg.

This type of joint pain sometimes develops during pregnancy, or it could result from an injury or osteoarthritis. The Pacific Sports and Spine team can determine what’s causing your pain and create an appropriate treatment plan for you.

What treatment options are available for SI Joint pain?

For some patients, rest and physical therapy are the only treatments needed to ease SI joint pain. If these measures aren’t sufficient to give you relief, the team at Pacific Sports & Spine also offers a range of injectable treatments, including:

These injections contain a steroid medication to reduce inflammation, a local anesthetic to dull the pain, or a combination of the two. Another effective treatment for SI joint pain that we offer at Pacific Sports & Spine is lateral branch radiofrequency neurotomy or ablation. This technique uses controlled heat to safely neutralize the nerves in your SI joints. In addition, we provide a minimally invasive, enduring solution known as the LinQ procedure for those suffering from SI joint pain. This involves the placement of a small implant within the joint to alleviate the grinding discomfort associated with osteoarthritis.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of SI joint pain, you could greatly benefit from the innovative treatments at Pacific Sports & Spine. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us — Call our office at (541) 780-6654 to schedule a patient appointment.