Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Treatment OKC

Are you experiencing pain in your hips and lower back? If so, you might be suffering from a condition known as sacroiliac joint dysfunction, frequently known as sacroiliitis. We are Oklahoma Pain Doc, and it would be our pleasure to offer a comprehensive treatment plan for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. We understand that this condition can be debilitating, but we can customize a treatment plan to meet your needs.

Learn more about certain sacroiliac joint dysfunction tests here, and connect with us to set up a consultation. Our goal is to assist you in developing a comprehensive treatment plan for sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

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.

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 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 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 lay 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 Oklahoma Pain Doc 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.