Have you been suffering from piercing pains in your lower back lately? Do you have trouble turning around, bending down, or rolling over in your sleep? If this is the case, you might have a sacroiliac joint inflammation - not exactly when you are waiting for right before the holiday season.
What exactly are the sacroiliac joints, you might ask? They are two 'L-shaped' joints located on either side of the spine, down at the lower back. They rest between the pelvic ilium and the sacrum (small wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of your spine), and are held in place by a variety of muscles and ligaments. Sacroiliac joints make it possible for you to move your pelvis - they get pulled and twisted along the pelvic girdle, which is what happens every time you move your lower back.
When one of the joints gets inflamed, sharp pains may arise in the lower back, buttocks, and sometimes the thighs. This can happen either when one of the joints gets stuck, or when one half of the pelvis is constantly being pushed backwards and forwards.
While the more severe forms of sacroiliitis tend to emerge with aging, the minor infections of the sacroiliac joint and the surrounding ligaments are quite common. The primary causes of sacroiliitis are degenerative arthritis, or osteoarthritis of the spine (because the disease often erodes the sacroiliac joints); injury caused by sudden impact or damage to the pelvic region; and pregnancy (because the pelvis is forced to stretch to allow for childbirth). Sacroiliitis is treatable, however, so do not worry. Just be sure to visit an osteopath as soon as you become aware of any of the symptoms.
The most noticeable symptoms of sacroiliac joint inflammation include: - Restricted hip movement (having difficulty turning around or rolling over in bed) - Stiffness in the lower back after long periods of immobility (such after long car journeys) or when waking up in the morning - Difficulty bending down - Pain during sexual intercourse - Sharp pain the thighs when swinging your legs out of bed or out of the car
If you recognize any of these symptoms in your own situation, be sure to visit someone with an in-depth knowledge about the sacroiliac joint, such as an osteopath. To minimize your discomfort temporarily, you are advised to: - Wrap a damp tea towel around an icepack and place it on the painful area for 10-minute intervals, over the course of a half hour, for up to three times a day. - Sleep on your side at night (not your back or stomach) - Place a pillow between your knees while you are in a sedentary position or when lying down. This should take some of the pressure off your pelvis.
Sacroiliac joint inflammation can be extremely uncomfortable, but osteopaths can help you deal with the pain quite effectively through a combination of physical therapy and anti-inflammatory treatments. So as long as you visit your osteopath regularly and take good care of yourself, this upcoming holiday season should be as enjoyable as your last. - 16004
What exactly are the sacroiliac joints, you might ask? They are two 'L-shaped' joints located on either side of the spine, down at the lower back. They rest between the pelvic ilium and the sacrum (small wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of your spine), and are held in place by a variety of muscles and ligaments. Sacroiliac joints make it possible for you to move your pelvis - they get pulled and twisted along the pelvic girdle, which is what happens every time you move your lower back.
When one of the joints gets inflamed, sharp pains may arise in the lower back, buttocks, and sometimes the thighs. This can happen either when one of the joints gets stuck, or when one half of the pelvis is constantly being pushed backwards and forwards.
While the more severe forms of sacroiliitis tend to emerge with aging, the minor infections of the sacroiliac joint and the surrounding ligaments are quite common. The primary causes of sacroiliitis are degenerative arthritis, or osteoarthritis of the spine (because the disease often erodes the sacroiliac joints); injury caused by sudden impact or damage to the pelvic region; and pregnancy (because the pelvis is forced to stretch to allow for childbirth). Sacroiliitis is treatable, however, so do not worry. Just be sure to visit an osteopath as soon as you become aware of any of the symptoms.
The most noticeable symptoms of sacroiliac joint inflammation include: - Restricted hip movement (having difficulty turning around or rolling over in bed) - Stiffness in the lower back after long periods of immobility (such after long car journeys) or when waking up in the morning - Difficulty bending down - Pain during sexual intercourse - Sharp pain the thighs when swinging your legs out of bed or out of the car
If you recognize any of these symptoms in your own situation, be sure to visit someone with an in-depth knowledge about the sacroiliac joint, such as an osteopath. To minimize your discomfort temporarily, you are advised to: - Wrap a damp tea towel around an icepack and place it on the painful area for 10-minute intervals, over the course of a half hour, for up to three times a day. - Sleep on your side at night (not your back or stomach) - Place a pillow between your knees while you are in a sedentary position or when lying down. This should take some of the pressure off your pelvis.
Sacroiliac joint inflammation can be extremely uncomfortable, but osteopaths can help you deal with the pain quite effectively through a combination of physical therapy and anti-inflammatory treatments. So as long as you visit your osteopath regularly and take good care of yourself, this upcoming holiday season should be as enjoyable as your last. - 16004
About the Author:
Andrew Mitchell, editor of Osteopath Network, writes articles about, back pain, neck pain and soft tissue injuries. If you are looking for an Southend-on-sea osteopath or for osteopaths elsewhere in the UK please visit the Osteopath Network website.
