Struggling with chronic lower back pain, buttock pain, or hip pain that won’t go away? The source may be a joint many people have never heard of: the sacroiliac (SI) joint.
As a Chicago rheumatologist and regenerative medicine physician, Dr. Siddharth Tambar sees many patients whose SI joint pain went undiagnosed for years. The good news is that effective treatments exist. Choosing the right injection from the start can make a real difference.
What Is the SI Joint?
The SI joint connects your lower back to your pelvis. Your body weight passes through it as it moves from your spine to your hips and legs.
Because it carries so much load, problems in the SI joint can cause pain in several places:
- Lower back pain
- Buttock pain
- Hip pain
- Leg pain
Why SI Joint Pain Is Often Missed
Many physicians overlook or dismiss the SI joint as a source of pain. As a result, many people live with chronic pain even though good treatments are available.
SI joint pain can also be hard to diagnose without knowing what to look for. Sometimes a diagnostic injection of numbing medication into the joint helps confirm whether the SI joint is the source.
What Causes SI Joint Pain?
There are several reasons the SI joint can become painful.
Inflammatory Arthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis)
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory arthritis that can cause inflammation in the SI joints. It needs care from a rheumatology specialist and is treated differently from mechanical SI joint problems.
Overstretched Ligaments
The most common cause of SI joint pain is overstretched ligaments. When the ligaments that support the joint become loose, the joint becomes lax and unstable, which leads to ongoing pain.
Common causes include:
- Pregnancy and childbirth. The SI ligaments naturally stretch during pregnancy to make room for the baby. For some women, they never fully tighten again, which leaves the joint unstable.
- Heavy lifting. Repeated or heavy lifting can strain the SI ligaments and lead to chronic dysfunction.
SI Joint Osteoarthritis
Wear and tear can also cause osteoarthritis in the SI joint. This adds to pain and stiffness over time.
The Link Between SI Joint and Hip Pain
The SI joint is frequently a key cause of hip pain. Dr. Tambar has treated his own mother with PRP in her SI joint several times for exactly this reason.
Common SI Joint Treatments and Their Limits
For SI joint dysfunction or osteoarthritis (not inflammatory arthritis), the most common treatments often don’t fix the underlying problem.
Steroid Injections
Most patients with SI joint pain end up getting a steroid injection. Steroids may calm pain for a while, but they don’t fix the joint’s instability.
Nerve Ablation
Nerve ablation targets the nerves that carry pain signals. Like steroids, it doesn’t correct the instability causing the pain.
SI Joint Fusion
Fusion surgery locks the joint in place. That can shift extra pressure to the lower back and hips, which may create new problems over time.
A Better Approach: Regenerative Medicine for SI Joint Pain
Because the root problem is often instability, the goal should be to strengthen and support the joint. That is where regenerative medicine in Chicago can help.
PRP Therapy
PRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma) uses concentrated platelets from your own blood. Platelets contain growth factors that support the body’s natural healing processes in damaged tissue.
Dextrose Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy uses a dextrose (sugar) solution to stimulate a healing response. The goal is to help tighten and strengthen loose ligaments.
Treating the Whole Area
For the best results, the treatment should go into:
- The SI joint itself
- The SI ligaments that support it
- Any contributing areas, such as the lower back or hip
This complete approach addresses the instability rather than just masking the pain.
Should You Ask Your Doctor About PRP or Prolotherapy?
Yes. If you have SI joint dysfunction or osteoarthritis, PRP or prolotherapy is the option worth pushing for.
If your physician isn’t familiar with these treatments or isn’t comfortable providing them, consider getting a second opinion from a provider who is.
Find Lasting Joint Pain Relief in Chicago
SI joint pain is common, often overlooked, and treatable. Instead of relying on short-term fixes, regenerative treatments like PRP therapy and prolotherapy aim to address the real cause of your pain.
At Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine, our team specializes in arthritis treatment in Chicago, osteoarthritis treatment, autoimmune disease treatment, and chronic pain management.
Ready to find out if your SI joint is behind your pain? Visit ChicagoArthritis.com to learn more or schedule a consultation.
This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Talk with a qualified physician about your specific condition.
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