Sacroiliac Joint Pain : Procedures, Side effects, Recovery time, Costs and alternatives

There are two bones in the lower back and they sit on each side of the spine. The main work of the sacroiliac joint is to carry the weight of the upper body while standing or walking and shifting the load to the legs. The pain starts while the joint is inflamed. Regular activities like running, jogging, and ligament damage in Sacrolic joint, arthritis, and Ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout are some of the causes behind the sacroiliac joint pain. It also may arise during pregnancy. When the body releases the hormone that causes the Sacrolic joints to loosen up and move more and it might lead to the changes in the way the joints move.

The Sacrolic joint, joint pain may be sharp or dull and once the pain starts in Sacroiliac joint, it radiates to the buttock, groin, thigh, and upper back. There are various treatments for SI joints pain. Depends on your level of pain, you will be given the treatment. The treatment starts from Rest as the first line treatment, medication, injection, surgery and other procedures. The doctor aims to give you back a pain-relieved life. The physician does a precise diagnosis and talks to you briefly to confirm the right SI joint pain treatment.

The treatment for the Sacroiliac Joint Pain is as follows:

• Rest & cold pack therapy: The very first SI joint pain treatment advised to the patient is rest along with cold/ice pack therapy on the painful side. The therapy is suggested in the affected site at least in 15-20 minutes interval and it is mostly advised when the pain in acute and the onset of pain is sudden.
• Medications: Besides other treatments, the physician will prescribe the patient to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain for a short term.
• Physiotherapy: This program will develop strength in hip, pelvis and the entire area. It in turn helps in stabilizing Sacroiliac joint. Apart from physiotherapy, other therapies like manual therapy (chiropractic) i.e. healing with hands will be effective. In this method, spinal mobilization or manipulation is done and it is mainly intended to relieve pressure and swelling on the affected nerves.
• SI joint brace or a sacroiliac belt: These are wrapped around the hips to hold SI joints tightly together, which can reduce your pain.
• Sacroiliac joint injections: A local anesthetic drug is injected with anti-inflammatory medication like corticosteroid to alleviate pain and inflammation. It helps to start the physiotherapy program and return to normal activities.
• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) RFA is a procedure that blocks pain signals by annihilating the nerves surrounding the SI joint for pain relief.
• SI Joint Fusion When the above treatments fail in reducing pain and do not make the patients live a normal life, surgery may be recommended. The fusion surgery goals to resolve SI joint dysfunction by reducing the motion between the pelvic/iliac bone and the sacrum part of the spine so that it is being stabilized and no longer causes pain.

Generally, all adults and children are eligible for medications, physiotherapy, belts and braces. However, for children, physiotherapy should be carefully given. Radiofrequency treatments and SI joint fusion surgery are aptly fit for adults whereas for children the physician should decide after diagnosing the child’s health and medical history.

Patients who suffer from tumor resection, deformities, and failed previous fusion surgery, infection near the operative site, suspected allergy or intolerance to the component materials are not suitable for SI Joint fusion.

Patients’, who are allergic to steroids, should not be administered with Sacroiliac joint injections.

In case any of these side effects persists or there any other health issues arising during or after treatment, it is advised to kindly consult the health specialist immediately.

Sacroiliac joint injections:

SI Joint Fusion

• The patient is advised to wear a back brace
• He will be advised to increase his activity slowly
• He will be advised to avoid certain activities like bending, twisting, lifting, and other forceful activities such as vibrations during car driving.
• A walker may be recommended to reduce the stress level on the joint
• A sacral belt will be recommended to stabilize the joint and limit its motions that might alleviate pain and slow down the healing
• Pain medications will be prescribed to mitigate pain

• Sacroiliac joint injections: Generally, 24 hours will take to resume your activity
• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Within 24-72 hours patients can resume their work and patients may experience pain-free within 2-3 weeks
• SI Joint Fusion: The recovery time after SI joint fusion differs from person to person. Your recovery plan will be designed by the surgeon to fit your condition. For a few weeks weight bearing will not be advised and walking with crutches will be advised to allow your body to heal.

Sacroiliac joint injections: 1500 rupees in India (on an approximate). The treatment costs may vary from Rs: 2000 to Rs: 20,000 INR.

• Sacroiliac joint injections: The result can last from a few months to a few years, depends on the patient’s adaptability of the body.
• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): It may last until the regrowth of nerves
• SI Joint Fusion: The treatment result may last for some years depend on your wear and tear on the SI joints.

If you do not have the desire to go for injections, ablation or surgery then there are some alternatives to solve SI joint pain and they are

• Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Prolotherapy, Essential oils, stretches and exercises,