SI Joint Pain or Lower Back Issue - Who to believe?

[Jo19899]

My back is bloody agony. Physio says it is lower back disc degeneration and osteopath says it is a sacroiliac joint issue. No idea who to believe and neither has been able to fix the issue.

Has anyone had the same problem? How did you resolve it. Thinking of booking a private MRI but quite expensive. GP was no help. At the moment I using shed loads of Advance 7 gel to help the pain.

Believe nobody until you have had a scan. I was misdiagnosed for six horrible years meaning I missed out on the proper treatment and now apparently not much can be done, best case will be extensive surgery but waiting to hear if this will go ahead or not.

I would lean towards physio
Only as I was told mine was SI joint, hip etc etc
I had a massive disc herniation that needed surgery

I had a SI joint issue. Turns out I have mild scoliosis and one leg longer than the other. Lots of physio with deep massage and insoles in one shoe eventually fixed it.

My dp is going through the same issue.

He bright a SI belt of the internet which helped.

This has been my story for the past 30yrs. First I was told it was my knee, then an unstable SI, then an MRI showed a herniated disc, then followed centralised pain syndrome, suspected equine cauda (sp?) but wasn't that. Now I'm waiting for a neurology appointment.

I am in agony with my SI joint and have been for years. I've seen everyone, nobody can help. Am off to see a new sports therapist this afternoon in fact. Back at the osteopath tomorrow. He says I'm hypermobile.

I saw a good physio years ago who yanked on my leg and seemed to pull something back into place but she has left. I am trying to do glute strengthening exercises to see if that helps. I can't imagine my GP would refer me for a scan. So fed up.

I couldn't get on with a belt, the velcro would undo itself nosily in meetings at random times!

The SI is the last joint in your spine, it has a disc which could well be degenerated.

They could both be saying the same thing using different terms.

Insist on an MRI, keep trying different GP's, no need to go private. This is what I did after being fobbed off for years. It revealed a long term chronic inflammatory problem that no-one can detect or diagnose without a scan.

It's likely to be a bit of both.

I'm disappointed to read your GP was no help, you sound as though you at least need an examination and possible referral for an X-ray to rule out sacroillitis, or a referral to your musculoskeletal/rheumatology team. Really, a referral to the right team to help you!
I'm a radiographer, so I'm not an expert, but I do see people from the clinics regularly. You've certainly done your best to manage your pain by visiting the osteo and physio, it's time for the NHS to help you.