Can sacroiliac joint pain cause sciatica

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Can sacroiliac joint pain cause sciatica

If you have chronic low back pain, arthritic changes to your sacroiliac joint may be the cause. Experts estimate1 15% to 30% of all low back pain cases originate at the sacroiliac joint, or SI joint. Many types of arthritis can affect the SI joint. The first symptom of ankylosing spondylitis is often pain in the sacroiliac joint. Watch: Ankylosing Spondylitis Video Sacroiliac joint anatomy Most people are aware that the spine is made up of bones called vertebrae, and that the vertebrae in the lower spine are called lumbar vertebrae. However, many are unaware of the wedge-shaped bone that the lumbar vertebrae rest upon, known as the sacrum. On either side of the sacrum is a sacroiliac joint that connects it to the pelvic bone. The sacroiliac joints are among the largest synovial joints in the human body, providing a large potential target of attack by various forms of arthritis. Read more about Sacroiliac Joint Anatomy on Spine-. Symptoms of sacroiliac joint pain Patients with SI joint pain often report diffuse pain of the low back, buttocks, hips, and/or the groin region. In addition, sacroiliac pain can radiate down the legs, most commonly along the back of the thighs. advertisement Arthritic diseases cause painful joint inflammation, and inflammation in the SI joint is known as sacroiliitis. Types of arthritis associated with sacroiliitis include: 1. Osteoarthritis More than 32 million Americans have symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA),2 which is defined as a breakdown of cartilage in a joint. This breakdown can lead to complications that result in pain, swelling, and difficulty with movement. Given the vital role that the large SI joint plays in transferring upper body weight to the lower extremities, it is commonly affected in osteoarthritis. People who have osteoarthritis in their SI joints often develop osteophytes or bone spurs around the joint, leading to pain and dysfunction. See What Is Hip Osteoarthritis? 2. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) While initial symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis typically affect smaller joints, such as the hands and wrists, it is possible for the sacroiliac joint to be affected, too. RA is a condition in which the immune system attacks various joints in the body, resulting in joint inflammation. The normally delicate lining that surrounds the joints (called synovial lining) can become abnormally thickened. Symptoms include joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, and may also include fatigue and flu-like symptoms. See What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)? 3. Lupus (SLE) Many regions of the body can be affected by lupus, including skin, blood, kidneys, brain, other organs, as well as joints. Women in the age range of 15 to 44 years have the highest risk of being diagnosed with the most common subtype of the condition, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).3 Many patients with SLE develop SI joint pain as one of their symptoms. 4. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) This form of autoimmune arthritis causes inflammation of joints, ligaments, and tendons. Frequently, SI joint pain and spontaneous spinal joint fusion are the initial presenting symptoms for patients with ankylosing spondylitis. An interesting difference from other autoimmune conditions is that AS predominantly impacts males--Men are 2 to 3 times more likely to get ankylosing spondylitis than women.4 See What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis? 5. Psoriatic arthritis Like ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease. It is closely associated with a skin condition called psoriasis, but not everyone who has psoriatic arthritis also gets psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis commonly affects the joints of the spine, including the SI joints. In fact, medical studies report the prevalence of sacroiliitis in patients with psoriatic arthritis to be between 34% and 78%.5 Patients with psoriasis and chronic lower back pain should consider having a sacroiliac joint assessment with a musculoskeletal specialist. See What Is Psoriatic Arthritis? 6. Gout and pseudogout While the most common site for gout attacks is the big toe, the sacroiliac joint(s) can also be affected. Gout occurs when needle-like, microscopic crystals collect in the soft tissues of the joint. The crystals, called uric acid crystals, can cause joint pain as well as swelling, redness, and warmth. The build-up of uric acid crystals occurs if the body cannot adequately metabolize purines, a chemical compound found in many foods. See All About Gout - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment Pseudogout also develops as a result of microscopic crystals. Doctors often refer to pseudogout as calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) or acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis (acute CPP crystal arthritis). See All About Pseudogout - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment If you have been diagnosed with gout or pseudogout and you have lower back pain, consider the possible connection with your doctor. 7. Reactive arthritis Inflammation of the sacroiliac joint and/or other parts of the spinal column are common symptoms of reactive arthritis. Reactive arthritis is triggered by an infection, and in most cases, the infection has resolved by the time reactive arthritis symptoms appear. People who have reactive arthritis may also notice symptoms that affect their eyes and fingers. See Reactive Arthritis Survival Guide Of course, not all sacroiliac pain is caused by arthritis. advertisement In addition to arthritis, SI joint pain may be caused by: Traumatic injuries, such as falls and other accidents Repetitive SI joint biomechanical stress such as repeated heavy lifting, prolonged intense physical activity, and manual labor Prolonged sitting or standing, particularly if the pelvic and/or low back muscles are weak and unstable Pregnancy, which causes the relaxing of ligaments and instability Added stress to the SI joint from another cause or procedure, such as a lumbar spinal fusion surgery Due to the many possible causes of sacroiliac joint pain, it is essential to have a complete assessment of your condition by a qualified medical professional. Contact either your primary care provider, orthopedist, or other musculoskeletal specialist for more information regarding your individual situation. Learn more: Possible Causes of Sacroiliitis and SI Joint Pain Understanding Joint Pain CC0/mohamed_hassan/Pixabay Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor. In fact, more than 80 percent of adults, according to one survey, have a problem with lower back pain at some point in their lives, and a large percentage have pain that is chronic in nature. This annoying and sometimes debilitating pain can be caused by a variety of reasons, some that are minor and temporary and others that require medical care. Many people are obese, and that obesity can lead to constant back pain. Excess weight puts strain on your back muscles and inhibits the desire to exercise, and that strain is particularly difficult on muscles that are already weak. Weaker muscles get sore much more easily, even from simple standing or walking. In most cases, losing weight helps reduce the strain on your back and alleviates the pain. Try to adopt an exercise regime to strengthen weak muscles. Even if you aren't overweight, you could experience back pain due to weak muscles that are easily strained from even light activity. If you're a couch potato or work sitting down all day, you may not spend enough time standing, walking or climbing stairs. If this is the cause of your misery, the natural back pain treatment for you is to adopt an exercise regimen to strengthen your back. Examples of such exercises include squats, deadlifts, planking and walking. Pregnancy comes with a host of unpleasant symptoms, including lower back pain. The extra weight gained from the growing fetus and the expanding uterus put pressure on the muscles of the lower back and the spine, causing a persistent backache in many cases. Most of the time, the pain lessens or disappears immediately after childbirth. In the meantime, you can try using a heating pad at a low temperature or some simple stretching to alleviate the pain. CC0/Camila Cordeiro/Unsplash If you've ever felt a sudden sharp pain in your back when you picked up something heavy, then you understand how painful muscle tears and overextension can be. Sometimes, the pain occurs after a sudden awkward movement of the torso as well. Back pain from lifting can be prevented by practicing good lifting posture, including always bending your knees when lifting something off the ground. You should also warm up before exercising and avoid making sudden movements with your torso. When part of the spine or back presses down on a nerve, it can cause pain in various parts of your back. Slipped discs, ruptured discs, bulging discs and sciatica are among the conditions that can cause nerve issues. This type of issue is typically serious and requires back pain treatment from a medical professional. If diagnosed with a nerve issue of the spine, be sure to follow your doctor's orders, take it easy and avoid doing anything to make the situation worse. The kidneys are situated slightly below your middle back, and that means any health issue involving the kidneys often manifests as back pain. The discomfort may come solely from the kidneys, rather than the back. If your backache is accompanied by urinary problems or pain in the lower abdominal area, it's a good idea to see your doctor as soon as possible. It could be a stone or an infection, and kidney infections can lead to kidney failure if left untreated. CC0/mohamed_hassan/Pixabay Another common cause of backaches is osteoporosis. This condition occurs when the body loses bone, makes too little bone or a combination of both. You can get osteoporosis as a side effect from other diseases, from medication, or as a result of poor nutrition. Either way, it's a pretty unpleasant health issue that can result in persistent pain due to the bone's inability to fully support your body weight. Osteoporosis can be managed with medication and changes in lifestyle. CC BY-SA 4.0/BruceBlaus/Wikimedia Arthritis is another common health issue, and while it primarily affects the joints, it can also cause back pain when it affects the joints of the hips or back. In some cases, the inflammation is bad enough to make the space around the spinal cord narrow, causing spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis can cause tingling, numbness or pain in the back area and can even radiate down to the legs. Like osteoporosis, arthritis can be managed with medication from your doctor. Any injury to the spine, whether by accident or due to a medical condition, can result in varying degrees of back pain. Some common spinal issues include scoliosis and vertebral fractures from accidents. Spinal issues require medical intervention or structural support to treat them. If you suspect a problem with your spine, then it's time to head straight to the doctor for a checkup. Unfortunately, it's true that some forms of cancer manifest as back pain. Examples include spinal cancer, pancreatic cancer and kidney cancer. This symptom also appears with metastatic cancers, or those that occur as secondary tumors spread throughout the body in some patients suffering from stage 4 cancer. If you have unexplained back pain for a period of time, it's a good idea to see a doctor to rule out any serious issues. There's nothing like pain in your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and other joints to really get your day off track. It can impact your ability to work, exercise and have a good time, and it can even decrease your mobility. Sure, you can rely on medication, both prescription and over-the-counter, but it often has negative side effects, especially with long-term use. Instead, try one of these 13 all-natural treatments for joint pain. They can change your life. A regular massage may be the key to improving your joint pain. Not only does it get the blood flowing and improve circulation in the impacted joints, but it can also help reduce inflammation and relax the tissues and muscles around the joint. If you can't afford to see a professional, try learning some DIY home massage moves. When you suffer from joint pain, specifically in the lower half of the body, exercise can be difficult. However, exercising in a pool -- whether you're swimming laps, aqua jogging or doing water aerobics -- is low-impact and takes some of the pressure off your joints. It can also help improve your strength and flexibility. Adding more omega-3 fatty acids to your diet can help prevent and reduce a number of health issues. It also helps reduce the inflammation that usually causes joint pain. You can increase your intake by eating more fatty fish, like salmon or tuna, or taking a fish oil supplement. The science isn't settled on acupuncture, but many people report feeling better after a few sessions of this ancient Chinese practice. It involves sticking needles into the skin, and it's used for a wide variety of ailments. If you have joint pain or stiffness, it can help loosen things up. CC0/acupunturacomunitaria/Pixabay You can make it yourself or buy it in stores. Either way, capsaicin cream is a common holistic remedy for joint pain. The topical cream is made from the substance that makes certain peppers hot and spicy, and it sort of tricks your brain into redirecting pain through your nerves so you don't feel it in that specific area. This one doesn't apply to everyone, but if you're overweight or obese, all of those extra pounds are putting extra pressure on your joints. Losing just a few pounds through diet and exercise can make a world of difference. If you suffer from arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation recommends trying the Mediterranean Diet to lose weight and reduce inflammation at the same time. It may seem strange, but many believe that aromatherapy and using essential oils can reduce joint pain. Studies have even found evidence this may be true. Orange and ginger specifically have been found to improve arthritis in the knees. Tai chi is another ancient Chinese practice that many Americans are currently turning to for help with a number of health issues, including joint pain. The movements build strength and increase your range of motion, and studies have shown arthritis patients who tried it for 12 weeks saw some improvement in their joints. CC0/franciscojcesar/Pixabay Although it's similar to tai chi, you may be more familiar with the art of practicing yoga. What you probably don't know is it can help improve your joint pain by increasing flexibility and strength. It's especially helpful for the hips, knees and shoulders. Sometimes, simply placing an ice pack or frozen vegetables on your joints can do the trick. Alternatively, a heating pad may help alleviate pain. Heat relaxes the joint and helps with stiffness, while cold is good for inflammation and swelling. CC0/PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay Sipping green tea may help with your joint pain. Studies have shown it can help reduce inflammation that can lead to the pain often associated with arthritis. Try having two to three cups daily to see results. CC0/PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay Health food stores everywhere like to promote the health benefits of the powerful spice turmeric. Typically used to make curry, when taken in supplement form, turmeric may help slow certain forms of arthritis and reduce the pain and swelling associated with the disease. In addition to adding the spice to your food, you can pick up a bottle of supplements in stores. Many people already know aloe vera, when used topically, can help soothe scrapes, burns and other similar ailments. What you may not know is that it can also help with joint pain. Purchase a bottle from your local drug store, or buy a plant to keep in your home, and rub the gel it produces on your joints regularly to help reduce pain. CC0/casellesingold/Pixabay

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