Your sacroiliac joint is located in the pelvis, and it includes your hips. Specifically, the sacroiliac joint, aka SI joint, is where your leg joins your pelvis. It is the job of your SI joint to support the weight of your body. It is distributed across the pelvis to prevent any single part of your body from bearing too much of your body weight. Unfortunately, pain in the sacroiliac joint is common. In some cases, it can have an adverse impact on your quality of life. You may have a difficult time moving, sleeping, or taking the stairs. Fortunately, there are ways for you to address sacroiliac joint pain. Keep reading to learn more about what causes SI joint pain, then reach out to your local chiropractor for further help.
What Are the Causes of Sacroiliac Joint Pain?
There are a few common causes of SI joint pain. One of the most common causes is osteoarthritis. Your joints take a lot of wear and tear over the years, and eventually, your cartilage can get completely worn down. When this happens, osteoarthritis can develop, and it is not unusual to see this condition in the spine.
In addition, a traumatic injury can lead to SI joint pain. For example, if you fall from a great height and land on your hip, you can damage your SI joint. Or, if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, you can suffer an injury of the SI joint if your knees strike the dashboard.
How Does Sacroiliac Joint Pain Present?
Similar to other conditions, SI joint pain can present in a wide variety of ways. Sometimes you may develop pain in the lower back. In other cases, you may sense the pain that radiates from your hip into your groin. You may also notice that the pain gets worse when you try to stand up after sitting for a long time. SI joint pain can also present as numbness or tingling. You may have a sensation of pins and needles in your hip or leg. Finally, you may feel like your legs are not strong enough to support your body. All of these are indications of SI joint pain.
How Can a Chiropractor Help?
A chiropractor can help you address SI joint pain by treating the underlying cause. Instead of simply treating the symptoms, a chiropractor will try to identify where the pain is coming from. For example, a chiropractor may notice that your pelvis is out of alignment. He or she will then use manual therapy known as chiropractic adjustments to ensure your hips, pelvis, and spine are in proper alignment. A chiropractor may also develop a physical therapy and rehabilitation plan for you to help strengthen the muscles around your SI joint, making the joint less vulnerable to injury in the future. This way, you can improve your flexibility, mobility, and coordination much longer after your initial visits.
Ultimately, sacroiliac joint pain is common. It can present in a wide variety of ways and can have a serious impact on your quality of life. Fortunately, this is not something you need to deal with on your own. A chiropractor has a wide variety of treatment options that he or she can use to help you address SI joint pain. Furthermore, the chiropractor can help you limit the complications and side effects of the treatment process simply by using a more natural, drug-free approach.
Consider reaching out to a chiropractor to learn more about how you can not only manage the symptoms of SI joint pain but also keep them away.