Sacroiliac Joint – Is My Back Pain Really Caused By My Back?

A staggering 10% of the population report suffering with back pain, however big or small the problem, it’s never a comfortable experience and can be life impacting. Is it really back pain you’re suffering from though? There may be another cause behind why you are getting that pain. A pelvic joint known as the sacroiliac joint and your lower back can mimic similar symptoms when it comes to pain. 

 

So how can you help to distinguish between them in order to treat it properly? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! 

The Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is situated on either side of the base of the spine and connects the lower back to the pelvis. They can be easily identified as these joints sit just under the dimples at the back of the pelvis. This joint plays an important role in helping the pelvis to dissipate force through the rest of the body when walking, running and hopping. 

 

It can even twist and expand to help during childbirth! Incredible, right? Like other places in the body, sometimes things can start to become dysfunctional or become irritated due to several factors. This is when pain will often start to occur. 

Pain emitted from the sacroiliac joint can be described as a dull, unrelenting, ‘headachey’ type discomfort deep in the lower back which can usually be pinpointed to one of the dimples to the side of the spine. This irritation can also cause a dull discomfort deep into the buttock, outside of the hip, groin and down the front of the thigh to the knee. 

 

Positions such as rolling over in bed, getting in and out of the car and sitting for long periods of time can all aggravate this joint. 

The first port of call is to identify if the SIJ is the generator of your pain. This can be done by thoroughly assessing the movement of the pelvis, lower back and hip complex to identify if there are any areas of restriction or dysfunction which could be causing the symptoms you are feeling. It’s always best to seek the help of a professional (like us!) for this rather than trying to self-assess at home. Failing to correctly identify an injury could result in potentially doing more harm to yourself. 

 

By combining your injury history with and extensive examination and assessment, the SIJ can be ruled in or out. Soft tissue massage is a great way to help address any tight muscles and joint restrictions which can attribute to your pain. 

 

Strengthening protocols such as rehabilitation exercises can play a crucial role alongside hands on treatment in addressing your symptoms in the short term. 

 

This will also help to keep you out of discomfort for the long run by getting to the root cause of why this joint has become painful.