Do you frequently experience pain, numbness, and tingling sensations in your lower extremity? If yes, then you might have a sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction. This condition occurs when your sacroiliac joints have inflammation, and they’re not working properly. Often mistaken with other common causes of back pain, it can sometimes be complicated to diagnose this condition correctly. But with a comprehensive sacroiliac joint dysfunction test at Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, we make things easier for you. Once diagnosed, we offer the best Sacroiliac joint dysfunction treatment in Oklahoma City.
From physical therapy to medications and joint injections, our goal is to provide you with long-term pain relief. With a team of experienced doctors who specialize in SI joint dysfunction, we bring your personalized care and support to you. Don’t let the pain get the best of you. Make the right decision and schedule an appointment with us today to start your treatment!
What Is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a condition that develops when one or both of your sacroiliac joints become inflamed. Your sacroiliac joints are responsible for connecting your pelvis to your lower back. If you develop sacroiliac joint dysfunction, it can cause issues to your lower back, buttocks, and hips. Furthermore, if this issue is allowed to get worse, it can lead to problems with your lower legs.
This condition can be difficult to diagnose because it is often confused with other common causes of lower back pain. That is why you need to call us to schedule an appointment with our professional doctors as soon as you develop problems with your sacroiliac joints. That way, we can frame a comprehensive plan to diagnose and treat the condition properly.
How to Get Rid of Sacroiliac Joint Pain?
At Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, we offer various treatment options to achieve sacroiliac joint pain relief. However, the exact treatment we use depends on how severe your condition is. Here are a few ways that we recommend to get rid of the pain:
- Medications: For not-so-severe conditions, we may start by prescribing over-the-counter pain medications. However, if they are not enough, we advise taking stronger medications. These usually include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that help lower the pain and inflammation in your sacroiliac joints.
- Physical therapy: We have a team of dedicated specialists who teach you exercises that strengthen the muscles around your sacroiliac joints. With consistent physical therapy, you can improve the stability of your joints and experience a reduction in pain.
- Sacroiliac joint injections: These injections can significantly help lower the discomfort longer than medications. When using this injection, we insert a needle into the sacroiliac joint using fluoroscopic guidance. We then inject a drug containing numbing agents and steroids for pain and inflammation reduction.
- Radiofrequency denervation: In this procedure, we use radiofrequency waves to disrupt pain-transmitting nerves. Although not a permanent solution, it offers significant pain relief. The pain may return, and we may have to repeat the procedure if necessary.
So, for the ultimate sacroiliac joint pain relief, Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management is your #1 choice. By treating this condition for years, we have gained unparalleled experience in the industry. Get the finest sacroiliac joint pain treatment in Oklahoma and leave your pain in the past. Contact us today to learn more about our treatment options!
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?
Like other conditions, the symptoms can vary depending on the scope and severity of the state. Several factors contribute to people developing issues with their sacroiliac joints, including traumatic injury, chronic arthritis, and pregnancy. There are even situations where infection of the sacroiliac joint can lead to pain and dysfunction.
The following symptoms are associated with Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction condition:
- Pain that is located in the buttocks and lower back.
- Pain that gets worse when you stand for a long time.
- Pain that causes you to bear more weight on one leg than the other.
- Pain that makes it difficult for you to take the stairs or run.
- Pain that causes you to take shorter strides to move your sacroiliac joint.
If you have questions about whether your symptoms could indicate sacroiliac joint dysfunction, reach out to our team to speak to our experts.
What Are the Tests To Diagnose Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?
When we diagnose sacroiliac joint dysfunction, we put a comprehensive plan in place. We will always start by asking you questions about your chronic pain and discomfort and conduct a physical examination to ensure we identify all potential issues with your sacroiliac joints.
Even though physical examination and patient history is overwhelmingly most suggestive of the diagnosis, there are several tests that we might use. For example, we may start with an x-ray of your pelvis. It would be helpful if we could take a closer look at your sacroiliac joint to examine any signs of damage. Then, we may also order an MRI for confirmation or to rule out other potential pain generators in the region. This test will give us a detailed image of everything happening with the bones, ligaments, and tendons surrounding your sacroiliac joints.
In addition, we recommend a sacroiliac diagnostic injection if there is an issue with your sacroiliac joint. We may inject a numbing medication into your SI joint. If your pain goes away, it may confirm that you have an issue with your sacroiliac joint.
How Is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Treated?
There are several treatment options available, and they depend on the severity of your symptoms. For example, we may start with over-the-counter pain medications, but if they are not enough, we may move forward with stronger medications.
If your pain is not getting better, there are procedures we can use to address the issue. For example, we may recommend fluoroscopically guided sacroiliac joint injections, and for more chronic pain situations we may also use radiofrequency denervation for more long-term pain symptom reduction.
A Sacroiliac Joint Block Can Serve as a Diagnostic Procedure For Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
There are two reasons why we might use sacroiliac joint blocks. The first option is a diagnostic joint injection. If you don’t know if you have sacroiliac joint dysfunction, we can use this injection to diagnose the issue. First, we will numb the sacroiliac joint with a local anesthetic. Then, we will place a needle in the sacroiliac joint using fluoroscopy.
We will inject some numbing medication into the joint space and ask you to move your sacroiliac joint a bit. We want to figure out if the medication has worked. Suppose you’ve experienced significant pain relief after the numbing medicine has been injected into your sacroiliac joint space. If this is the case, we can confirm that you have a problem with your sacroiliac joint. Then, we can move forward with a comprehensive treatment plan.
A Sacroiliac Joint Block Can Alleviate Pain
If we have confirmed that you have sacroiliac joint dysfunction, we can perform a therapeutic sacroiliac joint injection. Typically, this procedure is performed using the same technique listed above, but instead of a diagnostic medication, we will use an anti-inflammatory medication. A corticosteroid is the most common treatment option.
After we inject the therapeutic medication into your sacroiliac joint space, we will recommend that you start a physical therapy and rehabilitation program. You will be able to move your joints better after the injection, but we want to help you stay better. You can strengthen your sacroiliac joint using physical therapy and rehabilitation, which may prevent pain and discomfort from returning when the steroid medication wears off.
How Are SI Joint Blocks Administered When Treating Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?
Like other types of injections, a sacroiliac joint block is usually administered in a dedicated procedure room. After the injection is completed, you’ll be able to go home immediately.
There are a few steps involved in the procedure. They include:
- First, we will ask you to lie down on the radiography table. We may place a pillow underneath your body to keep you comfortable.
- Then, we will use a solution to clean off the injection area. We want to sterilize it to reduce your chances of developing an infection.
- Next, we will numb the injection area using lidocaine or another local anesthetic. Our goal is to keep you as comfortable as possible.
- Once we have confirmed that the numbing medication has worked, we will inject a contrast dye directly underneath the skin. This is important because it allows us to visualize everything happening underneath the skin’s surface using fluoroscopy. This procedure is important because we want to ensure the needle is in the right location.
- After using fluoroscopy to ensure the needle is in the right location, we will inject the therapeutic medication directly into the joint.
All steps of the procedure will be explained along the way, and you should expect the procedure to last up to a few minutes.
Contact Dr. Robinson for Help With Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Treatments in OKC
If you feel like your sacroiliac joints are bothering you, we can help you. At OSPM with Dr. Darryl Robnson, MD, we have a litany of positive reviews and ratings that testify to the level of care we provide. We can work with you to address issues with your sacroiliac joints, improving your recovery. We have unparalleled experience treating this condition, and we can use it to help you. Please call us today in OKC to schedule an appointment, and find out how we can assist you with issues related to your sacroiliac joint.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Many patients who have suffered from sacroiliac joint dysfunction have overcome the condition with the right treatment and medical assistance. Even though sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a long-term condition, you can always manage the symptoms with the right medical assistance and the right treatment. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is also commonly misdiagnosed and often mistaken for a degenerating spinal disc or even inflammation of the facet joints of the spine, which can lag the treatment process.
Book a ConsultationSacroiliac joint injections are used to treat your lower back pain, so yes, sacroiliac joint injections do work. However, sacroiliac joint injections also help to reduce pain in other areas of your body, such as:
- Groin
- Buttocks
- Legs
Sacroiliac joint injections can reduce nerve inflammation or irritation in these points of your body.
Book a ConsultationYes, sacroiliac joint dysfunction can cause hip pain. Even though the condition first starts from your lower back and buttock, it can easily progress to your lower hip area, groin area, and your upper thigh area. However, the hip pain caused by sacroiliac joint dysfunction can be similar to normal hip pain. While suffering from hip pain caused by sacroiliac joint dysfunction, you face difficulties standing, walking, climbing, and more. But, in normal hip pain, you face difficulties while putting weight on or rotating your legs.
Book a ConsultationYou can diagnose sacroiliac joint dysfunction using common symptoms that occur during this condition. If you experience lower back pain or tingling sensations in your pelvis, groin, numbness, weakness, and more, you may be suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction. However, if you still have doubts about your condition, you can visit your nearest physician for further physical exam tests like:
- FABER
- Compression test
- Distraction test
- Thigh thrust test
- Gaenslen test
Yes, sacroiliac joint dysfunction can also cause pelvic pain because the two pains often occur together. You could feel a dull or sharp pain in your pelvic region and your lower back when you are suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Sometimes, the pain can get triggered even when you stand up. And often, you only feel the constant pain on one side of your lower back region.
Book a ConsultationOklahoma Spine & Pain Management treats sacroiliac joint dysfunction issues in Oklahoma. If you are looking for a reliable place to get your sacroiliac joint dysfunction treatment, we are your one-stop solution. We start by understanding your discomfort and pain. Then, using an X-ray of your pelvis, we plan out a clearer picture of your situation. We might also request an MRI test if needed to move on to the treatment process. Using different diagnostic injections like SL joint injections, we put you on a treatment plan to heal your sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Book a ConsultationMajor accidents from vehicles or sudden impacts on your body can cause sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Due to the friction and tear in the arthritis joint, it can further result in sacroiliac joint dysfunction. If you go through physical trauma by a fall or any sports, you are highly susceptible to suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction. So, you need to visit your nearest hospital and check with your physician for further information on your condition.
Book a ConsultationDifferent hospitals use different tests for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. While some medical facilities use the help of an X-ray or an MRI to determine if you are suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction, other hospitals follow different physical exams to test for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Some of the physical examinations are:
- FABER
- Compression test
- Distraction test
- Thigh thrust test
- Gaenslen test
Here are some of the ways you can aggravate your sacroiliac joint dysfunction:
- If you sleep for an extended period.
- When you stand up for a long time.
- If you sit for a long time.
- When you have more weight on one of your legs than the other.
- When you are involved in physical activities that require jumping, skipping, and crossing your legs.
The doctors who treat sacroiliac joint dysfunction are physiatrists. Physiatrists are specialized in treating different injuries or illnesses that affect the range of motion. They also help patients who are suffering from chronic pain or are affected by their physical disability. Physiatrists often prescribe nonsteroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs to treat sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Similarly, they will also advise you to take physical therapies such as:
- Flexibility exercises
- Body mechanics
- Functional training
Patients experiencing sacroiliac joint dysfunction may find relief in as little as a few days, while others might require a week or more to experience improvement. Depending on the nature and origin of the injury, the joint pain can vary from mild to severe. If the discomfort persists for over three months, leading to chronic pain, it could be attributed to various physical factors and a lack of physical therapy interventions.
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