Patients suffering from sacroiliac, or SI, joint pain understand the constraints this pain can place on daily activities and hobbies. SI joint dysfunction can cause local pain in the pelvis and lower back as well as radiating symptoms in the buttock and leg. This pain can worsen over time, causing a patient to experience a decrease in quality of life and mobility.

If you are facing these symptoms, you understand the anxiety and frustration that SI joint pain can cause. However, there are many treatment options that can help you find lasting relief. Your doctor can determine the underlying cause of your SI joint pain and help you develop a treatment plan. You will likely be recommended to begin with a course of conservative treatment to see if a nonsurgical method can effectively treat your pain. However if conservative treatments do not offer lasting pain relief for your SI joint dysfunction, surgery may be recommended as an option.

Conservative treatments for SI joint pain

The purpose of conservative treatment is to relieve pain and improve range of motion while taking steps to improve the long-term health of the spine and the SI joint. Some effective conservative treatments for SI joint pain include:

• Stretching
• Low-impact exercise
• Weight loss
• Chiropractic care
• Swimming
• Physical therapy
• Massage
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

While these nonsurgical treatments can effectively reduce pain for mild SI joint dysfunction, patients with moderate to severe conditions may need to undergo surgical treatment to find pain relief. If you have been trying conservative therapy for several months and are still suffering from chronic or debilitating pain, your doctor may recommend consulting with a specialist who can discuss your options for surgery.

Surgical treatment for SI joint dysfunction

The traditional open surgery for SI joint dysfunction is a highly invasive, lengthy process that requires several postoperative nights in the hospital followed by a long and potentially difficult recovery period.

As an alternative to traditional procedures, USA Spine Care offers minimally invasive spine surgery to help treat patients with a range of conditions, including SI joint dysfunction. We can perform a minimally invasive SI joint fusion to help patients find lasting relief from SI joint pain and related symptoms. To learn more please contact our team today.

We are happy to offer a free MRI or CT scan review* to determine if you are a potential candidate for one of our procedures.

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