The sacroiliac joint is the part of your lower back made up of the sacrum (the bony structure above your tailbone and below your lower vertebrae) and the top part (iliac) of your pelvis. It is the part of the low back just behind your waist. You have right and left sacroiliac joints. Ligaments hold these bones in place.
Some possible causes of sacroiliac pain include:
Symptoms can include:
Your provider will ask about your health history and examine your back, pelvis, hips, and legs. You may need an x-ray, or in some cases a CT scan or an MRI. These tests are done to rule out other causes of pain.
For the first 2 to 3 days you should treat the area with ice packs for 20 to 30 minutes every 4 to 6 hours. You may use a frozen gel pack, crushed ice, or a bag of frozen peas. After icing for a few days, you may start to use moist heat to help loosen up a stiff sacroiliac joint and the muscles of your lower back.
Other treatments may include:
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your sport or activity will be determined by how soon your sacroiliac joint recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
It is important that you have fully recovered from your sacroiliac pain before you return to your sport or any strenuous activity. You must be able to have the same range of motion that you had before the injury. You must be able to twist, bend, run and jump without pain.
Be sure that you have warmed up and have done proper stretching exercises before participating in sports or other activities. Try not to twist when you are lifting heavy objects.