Back pain is one of the most common reasons many people experience reduced quality of life. It can stem from all sorts of causes, such as spinal disc problems, health conditions like arthritis, sprains and strains, and more. Moreover, it can also be due to inflammation in certain parts of the body, particularly in the sacroiliac (SI) joints. When this occurs, an issue called sacroiliitis develops and results in lower back pain that may also extend to the lower limbs and buttocks. Read on to learn more about sacroiliitis and what a back pain specialist in Singapore can do to help you find relief.
Sacroiliitis: Definition and Symptoms
Sacroiliitis is a painful inflammation affecting the SI joints (which serve to connect the spine and the pelvis) and causes pain in the lower back, legs, and buttock muscles. These joints are some of the biggest in the body, and you use them whenever you shift or move your hips. Depending on how many of your SI joints are affected, your healthcare provider may refer to your sacroiliitis in different ways, such as unilateral or bilateral sacroiliitis, i.e. sacroiliitis that affects one or two joints, respectively.
As mentioned, lower back pain is the primary symptom of sacroiliitis, and it may:
● Worsen when sitting or standing too long in one position, getting up after being seated for an extended period of time, and turning or rotating the hips.
● Manifest as a constant, dull ache or a sharp and stabbing feeling that happens suddenly.
● Spread or radiate from the lower back to the buttocks, hips, or thighs.
In addition, people with sacroiliitis often experience stiffness in the morning. While it is common to feel this way after sitting or sleeping in one position, it is short-lived, unlike sacroiliitis-related stiffness which can last for an hour or longer after waking.
What Causes Sacroiliitis?Anything that causes joint pain and inflammation may lead to sacroiliitis, most notably arthritis. Other potential reasons include:
● Reiter’s syndrome or reactive arthritis
● Psoriatic arthritis, which is a combination of psoriasis and arthritis that causes arthritis symptoms in the joints and flaky and scaly patches on the skin
● Ankylosing spondylitis is essentially a type of arthritis that affects the spinal joints
● Behçet’s disease
● Crohn’s disease
● Ulcerative colitis
On rare occasions, women may experience sacroiliitis during pregnancy. This is because the hormones causing changes to the body may also make the SI joints wider and rotate. Lastly, the rare Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infection is also known to cause sacroiliitis if it attacks the SI joints.
Treatment Options for Sacroiliitis
1. Physical therapy (PT)
Sacroiliitis is commonly treated via physical therapy, wherein the goal is to strengthen the muscles around the SI joints through focused exercises and stretches to improve their stability and alleviate pressure.
2. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines
Your healthcare provider may also suggest you take pain management medications that help address the inflammation, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), which are also recommended for tendonitis treatment in Singapore. Beyond these, other medicines that may help include corticosteroid injections for relieving pain and inflammation and muscle relaxers for preventing the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.
3. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
While less commonly used, RFA is also a good alternative to permanently blocking nerves in the SI joints from transmitting pain signals.
4. Sacroiliitis surgeryOn rare occasions, your healthcare provider might suggest getting surgery as a last resort if PT and all other treatments come up short in relieving your pain. This procedure involves a joint fusion or a permanent fastening of the joint together using surgical screws.
Conclusion
Sacroiliitis highlights the critical role that the pelvis joints play in maintaining spinal stability and how their inflammation can lead to persistent lower back pain. Early diagnosis and targeted treatment, whether through physical therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes, are essential to manage symptoms effectively and prevent further complications.
If you’re experiencing new or worsening pain in your lower back, book a consultation at Affinity Pain Clinic today. Let our pain specialists help you diagnose and treat the source of your aches and pains with minimally invasive and evidence-based therapies that are guaranteed to get you back on your feet and lead a pain-free life once more.
Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
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