Sacroiliac Joint Pain

What is sacroiliac joint pain?

While still somewhat controversial, it has become increasingly accepted that the sacroiliac joint can be a major focus of back pain. Mechanical dysfunction, inflammation, infection, trauma, and degeneration all have been attributed to the sacroiliac joint. Once diagnosis is established, treatment can be directed to the affected joint, often with satisfying results.

What are some signs and symptoms of sacroiliac joint pain?

The key element in sacroiliac dysfunction diagnosis is pain. Many have attempted to define a typical pain pattern associated with the sacroiliac joint. Patients usually describe as having pain in one or both buttocks at or near the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS). However, pain radiating to the hip, posterior thigh, or even the calf has been described. Patients often relate that the pain worsens especially when sitting for long periods of time or performing twisting or rotary motions.

• Pain quality - Sharp, stabbing, knifelike, dull ache

• Pain distribution - Buttock, back of thigh, upper back, unilateral or bilateral

• Past history - Important to exclude past history of inflammatory disorders (eg, inflammatory bowel disease, Reiter syndrome). Pain that is worse in the morning (morning stiffness) and resolves with exercise is consistent with inflammatory disease.

• Fevers, weight loss, and pain in the night with night sweats must receive proper attention as potential red flags for systemic illness.

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