The sacroiliac joint attaches the sacrum which is the bone with a triangle shape found just under the lumbar spine. The sacrum is attached to the Ilium and is located on the lower part of the spine.

Sacroiliac joint pain is brought about by various factors and this could be due to degeneration brought about by age or a damaged sacroiliac (SI) joint. The swelling of the joint brings about the pain and this is one of the major lower back pain causes. Published studies have shown that up to 25% of low back pain is due to an SI joint problem.

Sacroiliac Joint Treatments

The treatments for sacroiliac joint pain/disorders are largely conservative and are more focused on restoring the function of the sacroiliac joint. There are various treatments and options utilized by workers compensation doctors.

Physical Therapy: Physical therapy includes heat and ice treatments, deep tissue massage, stretching exercises, ultrasonography and others. Physical therapy is mainly administered to help keep the spine in a neutral position. The idea of physical therapy is to provide relief both immediate and short term.

Usually, the Arizona workers compensation physician will identify the actions that aggravate the condition and steer away from them. Physical therapy helps in reducing the inflammation and is essential in reducing pain which is mostly brought about as a result of inflammation.

Medications: This is the first thing a Federal workers compensation doctor will prescribe to help manage the pain and usually pain medications are recommended to reduce swelling and relieve the pain.

NSAIDs which stand for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are normally prescribed and in some cases antidepressants, anti-arrhythmic topical medications and anticonvulsants could be recommended to help relax the muscles and relieve pain.

Injections: SI joint injections are effective in treatment and help to identify the right course of treatment to take as they pin point the root cause of the pain. The injections also work to provide pain relief and because they have anti-inflammatory corticosteroid medication, they can reduce inflammation around the sacroiliac joint. Pain relief can help the patient get back to his or her normal activities.

The sacroiliac joint is a valuable joint in the body and needs to be well taken care of. The basics of these sacroiliac treatments are mainly to restore its function by reducing the inflammation, pain and correcting the deformity. Different treatments are administered and this mainly depends on the level of pain and its cause. That said; these treatments are highly effective.