Sacroiliac joint pain?

[RadioDorothy]

20 years ago I developed inflammation of the left sacroiliac joint, after a few years in a manual job (working with horses) which meant endless standing, bending and lifting. It was misdiagnosed for a while, but an osteopath finally pinpointed this joint, I had some brief treatment, gave up the horses for an office job and recovered.

Over the years it has flared up occasionally, and I treat it with ice packs and rest. It rarely lasts long and just a bit tiresome, however...right now I'm stuck in a hotel in Norfolk and in pretty serious pain.

I think I "tweaked" it last week after some long periods of standing, carrying and bending (running a 2 day conference). I've done 5 hours of driving today and now the pain is going right through me and it hurts even to move slightly.

I doubt my GP can help, presumably it will be written off as generic back pain and they'll offer me ibuprofen. Is there any point trying a chiropractor or osteopath?

Or do I wait it out and let it fade away by itself?

radio where are you based?

I'm down south in Hampshire

My physio if concerned would not touch me but refer me straight to the hospital. Wait and see what your chiropractor says.

PM sent

Thanks Camel!

After 30 mins with an ice pack I've noticed a significant difference - well, I was able to have a brief shower and get clean knickers on without help anyway!

The base of my spine feels a bit numb and I have a new twinge down the inside of my right thigh - my left buttock and hip is on fire, but the jolting pain has eased for now.

Don't think I'll be doing any driving for work this week though.

Sorry to hear about your SI joint pain. I have this sometimes (injury in labour 9 years ago), and I think watering would be a mistake if you're using a can. When my is joint is bad, I try only to do really symmetrical things, so lifting a heavy can one sided would be really bad for me. Even a hose wouldn't be ideal.

Ice as often as possible. I have two packs so one is always really cold. My physio tells me to have 5 mins on the ice pack, then 5 mins off and 5 back on again. When mine is too bad to lay on the floor, I stand and lean against the wall to get pressure on the ice pack that way.

Contrast bathing is also good: ice pack, warm shower, ice pack.

Try to ice every couple of hours. I also find biofreeze gel very good for when I'm out and about and can't ice. You can get it in any pharmacy.

I have diclofenac on prescription which usually sorts my si joint pain. You need to take a stomach protector with it, but I find it great. Naproxen does nothing for me. I'd suggest you get some decent pain relief alongside the chiro, as that will reduce the inflammation as well.

Good luck!

Thanks Shoes - yes you're right about the symmetrical lifting, even picking up a mug hurt yesterday, and today I made myself yelp moving a laptop from left to right hand!

But I had my first chiro treatment today...aaaaah, the relief.

He was very methodical, very gentle, and carefully released the tension in the locked up muscles first. Then compressed and released the SI joint to get that mobile, which could have been agonising had he not been so precise with his movements. Then used some weird gun to pummel my lower spine to get those lower joints moving - the left SI joint was too sore to be wrestled into standard manipulation positions for my lower back today, hence the "gun". Don't know what it's called but the punching sensation isn't unpleasant!

He also quickly loosened up a tight joint in my neck, and three in my mid back, which meant that on the drive home I realised I could look over my right shoulder fully for the first time in years!

The pain hasn't gone (he's good but he's not that good haha), but I'd say it's 50% better. I can walk relatively normally, the constant nauseating pain has receded and the inflammation is definitely reduced.

Hurrah. Next appointment is Weds.

Ah so pleased for you. I remember going to the chiro. after an awful birth and the pain that just got worse. I felt like I was floating when walking out of the practice.

So glad you’ve got some relief OP. I swear by my chiropractor!

The gun thing! I call it a nutcracker! Lol. Apparently it’s for loosening the muscles, like a deep tissue massage but about 50 times more intense or something! I like it but it’s a bit weird when used on your neck, makes me feel a bit sick there.

Anyway, like I said, glad you’re in the mend.

It has improved a lot - by the early afternoon I can move around fairly normally, but unfortunately it's in the night and first thing in the morning when it's at its worst.

Getting up for a pee is almost impossible, I have to inch myself to edge of the bed on my good side and kind of drop onto all fours - but I've still to got to get to a standing position, which is just screaming agony and makes me see stars.

Likewise getting up first thing - DH brings me an ice pack and helps me get it underneath me (I can't actually lift that side of my pelvis so it's tricky), so after 20 mins I can get out of bed with the pain at a 9 rather than a white hot 10.

Luckily as the day goes on it gets better. Seeing the chiro again later. I want to think its on the mend, but at 3am and 6am I can't believe I'm ever going to feel normal again.

Honestly what a drama queen, it's day 8 today

Hope you are improving, I get this with flank pain, groin pain and nausea , like posters said rest is good, when I get a flare IP I think o have a uti etc, any one else experience these symptoms, hope you are back to normal soon, look after yourself

@Galwaygirl I get flank pain with this too and occasionally down the groin. It's very like uti pain

Day 11 and its about the same - not too bad at all during the day, I can walk and move around relatively normally as long I don't lift, twist or bend too much. Night time still agony, going from lying to sitting to standing is still the most painful thing I've ever experienced.

So weird, I expected it to be gone in a week. I still haven't been to GP, maybe I should.

With that level of pain, you should go to your GP. Have you had an x-ray recently? There may be more going on than you're aware of.

I had pain in my left SI joint every time I was pregnant (four times) - from very early on. It would then disappear after I gave birth. Anyway, years later the pain returned and I discovered that I have osteoarthritis in the joint. It can be very painful; I feel the pain in my lower left back, buttock and inside of the top of the thigh and groin. I'm now getting milder pain in my right side. I haven't been able to totally eliminate the pain, but it's reduced by using heat and co-codamol 30/500,

You really shouldn't have to suffer to this degree. Go to your GP for some help.

I think the GP is called for my chiro. was good but my physio. gave me advice on medication and an exercise sheet.

Thanks everyone - no, never had an x-ray. Back pain is just "one of those things" generally isn't it, I've had the occasional flare up since the first episode 20 years ago but never anything like this and never for more than a day or two.

I don't want to be one of THOSE people who makes a fuss about normal wear and tear on ageing joints, especially when I'm already overweight. I've rolled my eyes and been sarky about a woman I know who kicked up a huge fuss about her back pain until they finally gave her an MRI and found nothing - she said the specialist humiliated her and made her feel like she was wasting his time. I thought she was an attention seeking idiot. But this level of pain for this long is freaking me out slightly.

My mum had back pain in middle age and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her hip and lower spine - but I don't know if she had x-rays, and sadly she has alzheimers so I can't really ask her about it.

Part of me would just like to know what's going on in there. Last night when laying flat I had searing pain in the base of my spine, and just breathing made it throb (like migraine in my spine!)

Yes, trying to get onto all fours is the only way to get up - I'm a side sleeper so I have to turn onto my front first, but tilting or dragging my pelvis sideways is really unpleasant.

Thanks for the advice. Got chiro again tomorrow morning, but I think I'll make a GP appointment.

Read up about sacroiliitis

Can I ask all on this thread with sacro illiac issues whether you have tailbone pain? It’s been suggested that my problem is sacro illiac related but my pain seems different to the symptoms I keep reading about.

I have terrible coccyx pain which sometimes spreads into right buttock and leg but the focus is very much the coccyx. It is worse when sitting and standing still but somewhat relieved by walking, yoga and lying down. It’s ruining my life as I can’t sit to eat, work etc. Some days are worse than others. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Hi, yes I do get tailbone pain on occasion - although it's not really the site of the most excruciating pain!

Have you seen a decent chiropractor?

My physio said that the pain can be referred to pretty much anywhere anyone has mentioned in this thread. Mine is particularly noticeable at the very top of my hip at the moment, almost feels like it's in my side

Saw a different therapist for my issues the other day and she noticed that my right shoulder is a lot lower than my left when im standing. She thinks that my pain is due to a tilted pelvis

How's your pain now sausage?

It's been 4 weeks and I'm finally feeling loads better - about 95% back to normal (as in, slightly worse pain than the standard daily pain I've been used to for years).