Treatment for sacroiliac joint pain often requires help from a physician. However, it is possible to treat sacroiliac joint pain to provide temporary relief. For immediate relief, apply ice to the area where you are experiencing pain. Sacroiliac pain typically occurs in the lower back and hip, but can extend into the buttocks, down the leg, or to the groin.
Another way to treat sacroiliac joint pain is with rest. Resting can relieve some of the inflammation that leads to sacroiliac pain. While resting is a way to relieve the pain related to sacroiliac joint pain, it is not an excuse to become sedentary. Once your pain is under control, exercise, and particularly stretching, can reduce the pain.
If the problem continues after you try ice and rest, it may be necessary to visit your healthcare provider. There are several options for healthcare providers to effectively treat sacroiliac joint pain. Injections are often the first treatment attempted by physicians. The injections may contain either painkillers or cortisone, which reduces swelling in the affected area.
Another method to treat sacroiliac joint paint is bipolar radiofrequency neurotomy, a procedure where the physician places two needles in the affected joint area. An electric current is passed through the needles. This process leaves lesions on the nerves that transmit pain sensations to the brain, blocking the pain message.
An alternative therapy to treat sacroiliac joint pain is chiropractic manipulation. Chiropractic work can often reduce or even eliminate the pain associated with sacroiliac joint problems. In some cases, surgery is necessary to effectively treat pain associated with this disorder. There are many different treatments available for this condition, and, if you continue to experience pain with treatment, it may be a sign that the pain is related to something else. Back problems such as sciatica often have the same or similar symptoms, at least initially, as sacroiliac joint pain.
Once the pain of sacroiliac joint pain is managed, your healthcare provider may recommend applying deep heat before exercise, stretching, or performing activities that may place strain on the sacroiliac joint. Sacroiliac joint pain can develop as a result of degenerative or rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, or compensation from existing lower leg pain. Sacroiliac pain can also develop after a car accident or as a result of excessive twisting or bending, such as from participating in some sports.