Joint treatment
DYSFUNCTION in the sacroiliac ( SI) joint is a common cause of lower back and/ or leg pain. Leg pain can be particularly difficult and may feel similar to sciatica or pain caused by lumbar disc herniation.
The SI joint is small and very strong, reinforced by strong ligaments that surround it. It does not have much motion and transmits all the forces of the upper body to the pelvis ( hips) and legs. Therefore, the joint acts as a shock- absorbing structure.
The presence of pain is caused by an alteration in the normal joint motion that results in:
Too much movement ( hypermobility or instability)
– The pain is typically felt in the lower back and/ or hip and may radiate to the groin area. In this case, the ligaments are lax due to previous pregnancy or trauma.
Too little movement ( hypomobility or fixation)
– The pain is typically felt on one side of the lower back or buttocks and can radiate down the leg. This occurs in the degeneration of the SI joint.
The pain usually remains above the knee, but at times pain can extend to the ankle or foot. The pain is similar to sciatica, or pain that radiates down the sciatic nerve.
Diagnosis of SI joint dysfunction is difficult because the symptoms mimic other common conditions, including mechanical back pain conditions such as facet syndrome and lumbar spine conditions such as herniated disc and radiculopathy ( pain along the sciatic nerve that radiates down the leg).
Hence, diagnosis of SI joint dysfunction is made by exclusion. To confirm the diagnosis, SI joint block is done.
Treatment of SI joint dysfunction includes various modalities: • Ice, heat and rest • Medications • Physical therapy and exercise • Supports or braces • SI joint injections • Surgery – fusion of the SI joint
Diamagnetic therapy and the usage of Spinz Double Gear belt have shown remarkable and lasting relief in the treatment of this difficult condition.
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