Have you been having difficulty sleeping, turning, or bending over lately? Are you constantly plagued by sharp pains in the lower back? If so, you could be suffering from sacroiliac joint inflammation - not exactly something you want to be stuck with over the Christmas holidays.
Now, you might be wondering what the sacroiliac joints even are. They are two 'L-shaped' joints are situated at the lower back, between the pelvic ilium and the sacrum (the small wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of your spine), and are held in place by various muscles and ligaments. Their function is to enable you to move your pelvis - sacroiliac joints get pulled and twisted along the pelvic girdle whenever you move your lower back.
When these joints get infected, they can cause stabbing pains in the lower back, the buttocks, and even the thighs on occasion. This inflammation can occur when one half of the pelvis is constantly driven backwards and forwards, or at times when the joints get stuck.
Mild inflammations of the sacroiliac joints and the surrounding regions are not uncommon, but the more severe forms of sacroiliitis tend to crop up with old age. The most significant causes of sacroiliitis include pregnancy (because the pelvis is forced to expand during labour); trauma or sudden impact injury to the spine or pelvis; and degenerative arthritis, or osteoarthritis of the spine (which deteriorates the sacroiliac joints). But do not fret: it is possible to treat sacroiliitis, just as long as you visit your osteopath and keep an eye out for any early symptoms of the disease.
The most common symptoms of sacroiliac joint inflammation are: - Restricted hip movement (making it difficult to turn around or roll over in bed) - Having a stiff lower back after extended periods of remaining still or sedentary (i.e. after long car journeys), or when getting up in the morning - Having trouble bending down - Experiencing pain during sexual intercourse - Sharp pains in your thighs when moving your legs in a specific way (swinging them over the bed or out of the car)
If you recognize any of these symptoms in your own situation, be sure to visit someone with an in-depth knowledge about the sacroiliac joint, such as an osteopath. To minimize your discomfort temporarily, you are advised to: - Wrap a damp tea towel around an icepack and place it on the painful area for 10-minute intervals, over the course of a half hour, for up to three times a day. - Sleep on your side at night (not your back or stomach) - Place a pillow between your knees while you are in a sedentary position or when lying down. This should take some of the pressure off your pelvis.
Sacroiliac joint inflammation can be a right pain in the back. Osteopaths can help you cope with this pain effectively through a combination of anti-inflammatory medication treatments and physical therapy. So as long as you are patient with yourself and visit an osteopath regularly, there is no reason why you cannot have an enjoyable holiday season. - 16650
Now, you might be wondering what the sacroiliac joints even are. They are two 'L-shaped' joints are situated at the lower back, between the pelvic ilium and the sacrum (the small wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of your spine), and are held in place by various muscles and ligaments. Their function is to enable you to move your pelvis - sacroiliac joints get pulled and twisted along the pelvic girdle whenever you move your lower back.
When these joints get infected, they can cause stabbing pains in the lower back, the buttocks, and even the thighs on occasion. This inflammation can occur when one half of the pelvis is constantly driven backwards and forwards, or at times when the joints get stuck.
Mild inflammations of the sacroiliac joints and the surrounding regions are not uncommon, but the more severe forms of sacroiliitis tend to crop up with old age. The most significant causes of sacroiliitis include pregnancy (because the pelvis is forced to expand during labour); trauma or sudden impact injury to the spine or pelvis; and degenerative arthritis, or osteoarthritis of the spine (which deteriorates the sacroiliac joints). But do not fret: it is possible to treat sacroiliitis, just as long as you visit your osteopath and keep an eye out for any early symptoms of the disease.
The most common symptoms of sacroiliac joint inflammation are: - Restricted hip movement (making it difficult to turn around or roll over in bed) - Having a stiff lower back after extended periods of remaining still or sedentary (i.e. after long car journeys), or when getting up in the morning - Having trouble bending down - Experiencing pain during sexual intercourse - Sharp pains in your thighs when moving your legs in a specific way (swinging them over the bed or out of the car)
If you recognize any of these symptoms in your own situation, be sure to visit someone with an in-depth knowledge about the sacroiliac joint, such as an osteopath. To minimize your discomfort temporarily, you are advised to: - Wrap a damp tea towel around an icepack and place it on the painful area for 10-minute intervals, over the course of a half hour, for up to three times a day. - Sleep on your side at night (not your back or stomach) - Place a pillow between your knees while you are in a sedentary position or when lying down. This should take some of the pressure off your pelvis.
Sacroiliac joint inflammation can be a right pain in the back. Osteopaths can help you cope with this pain effectively through a combination of anti-inflammatory medication treatments and physical therapy. So as long as you are patient with yourself and visit an osteopath regularly, there is no reason why you cannot have an enjoyable holiday season. - 16650
About the Author:
Andrew Mitchell, editor of Osteopath Network, writes articles about cranial osteopathy, back pain, neck pain and soft tissue injuries. If you are looking for a Milton Keynes osteopath or for an osteopath in the UK please visit his website.
