SI joint pain, help!

I've been experiencing right side lower back, buttocks and leg pain for 2 weeks now. All down to my calf. Dr says it's my SI joint. I'm on a steroid, pain med and a muscle relaxer but no relief. I rate it an 8
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Replies

  • nutty192
    nutty192 Posts: 50 Member
    I feel for you. It will go, at least that is what my consultant said to me. But it took about 3 months, mostly spent in bed. Ouch!
    I found the most helpful was a chiropractor, and an individual pilates teacher. Now that the pain has now eased, I find I still need to see the chiropractor every month, and I do pilates classes every week. Losing weight has also helped.
  • joanna_82
    joanna_82 Posts: 151 Member
    I have SI joint problems but I keep it at bay with Pilates and stretching. When mine flares up the muscles around my hips back and glutes tense up. Acupuncture usually sorts out the muscle tightness almost instantly. Would recommend.
  • lgregory6540
    lgregory6540 Posts: 63 Member
    I hadd tons of SI pain from a car accident a few years back- chiro definately helped and gave me some stretches to help keep it loose. Ended up having a steroid injection to help with pain and inflammation so I could do exercises to get it straightened out. Highly recommend chiro to get started.
  • Bocch
    Bocch Posts: 191 Member
    Well, I am not sure if SI means sciatica inflamation or not but, I have been experiencing sciatica problems since beginning of July. I am sure it was because I placed myself in a position I do not normally go into. I had problems sitting and bending, the pain would be on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst, an 11 or 12. I had to go to an MD that claims it is a muscle spasm pushing up against the nerve. He gave me mild pain relievers that absolutely did no good. Was able to get to a chiropractor, which told me I am out of alignment and that is what is causing pain. A chiropractor did minor adjustments and told me to ICE the area. Every hour for 20 mins. I did so and got some relief. The MD still says its muscle and will go away by itself. However, I am taking 2 aleve every 12 hours, I do the ICE therapy and, I do minor stretching. I have
    better mobility but it is coming back a little at a time. Good luck with your SI (whatever that is)
  • teetertatertango
    teetertatertango Posts: 229 Member
    My husband got relief through chiropractic treatment and doctor prescribed stretches/exercises. Meds alone are probably not enough especially if you are doing something in your daily life that is continually aggravating it (doc should be able to help you pinpoint that).
  • nutty192
    nutty192 Posts: 50 Member
    SI joint =sacro illiac joint. Somr drs say they do not cause problems1 i think they are wrong.
  • kizanne1
    kizanne1 Posts: 51 Member
    Ditto on chiropractic and yoga stretches.
  • TswvNplooj
    TswvNplooj Posts: 60 Member
    Ty I will try to get to a chiropractor asap
  • marm1962
    marm1962 Posts: 950 Member
    a massage therapist could help also
  • TswvNplooj
    TswvNplooj Posts: 60 Member
    Bocch wrote: »
    Well, I am not sure if SI means sciatica inflamation or not but, I have been experiencing sciatica problems since beginning of July. I am sure it was because I placed myself in a position I do not normally go into. I had problems sitting and bending, the pain would be on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst, an 11 or 12. I had to go to an MD that claims it is a muscle spasm pushing up against the nerve. He gave me mild pain relievers that absolutely did no good. Was able to get to a chiropractor, which told me I am out of alignment and that is what is causing pain. A chiropractor did minor adjustments and told me to ICE the area. Every hour for 20 mins. I did so and got some relief. The MD still says its muscle and will go away by itself. However, I am taking 2 aleve every 12 hours, I do the ICE therapy and, I do minor stretching. I have
    better mobility but it is coming back a little at a time. Good luck with your SI (whatever that is)

    My doctor says it's muscle too. Pain meds does nothing for me. I did x-ray and found nothing wrong. Dr is clueless.
  • TswvNplooj
    TswvNplooj Posts: 60 Member
    I hadd tons of SI pain from a car accident a few years back- chiro definately helped and gave me some stretches to help keep it loose. Ended up having a steroid injection to help with pain and inflammation so I could do exercises to get it straightened out. Highly recommend chiro to get started.

    Does injection help?
  • TswvNplooj
    TswvNplooj Posts: 60 Member
    joanna_82 wrote: »
    I have SI joint problems but I keep it at bay with Pilates and stretching. When mine flares up the muscles around my hips back and glutes tense up. Acupuncture usually sorts out the muscle tightness almost instantly. Would recommend.

    Does it hurt? I'm terrified if needles.
  • TswvNplooj
    TswvNplooj Posts: 60 Member
    nutty192 wrote: »
    I feel for you. It will go, at least that is what my consultant said to me. But it took about 3 months, mostly spent in bed. Ouch!
    I found the most helpful was a chiropractor, and an individual pilates teacher. Now that the pain has now eased, I find I still need to see the chiropractor every month, and I do pilates classes every week. Losing weight has also helped.

    Were u on any meds?
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    Heating pad, stretching, massage therapy, and a good chiro
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    GaoleeYaj wrote: »
    Ty I will try to get to a chiropractor asap

    If the chiro doesn't give you home exercises and just wants to do adjustments forever. Run.
  • lgregory6540
    lgregory6540 Posts: 63 Member
    GaoleeYaj wrote: »
    I hadd tons of SI pain from a car accident a few years back- chiro definately helped and gave me some stretches to help keep it loose. Ended up having a steroid injection to help with pain and inflammation so I could do exercises to get it straightened out. Highly recommend chiro to get started.

    Does injection help?


    It definately helped but wasn't a solution - it just bought me time with lessened inflammation to strengthen the areas around the SI joint to support it better. Chiro over all helped more. Other thing chiro might suggest is an SI belt- it stabilizes the joint while you exercise and strengthen it. It's a nasty little area once things get inflamed and wouldn't show on X-ray as its mostly soft tissue.
    Good luck and hope it feels better soon
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    After doing a double SI joint separation last year, and prior to that dealing with instability for years, my physio diagnosed me with an underlying lower crossed syndrome. Addressing that has gotten me stronger and more stable than I ever have been in my life. No signs of muscle imbalance no instability. Life is good.
  • ievent
    ievent Posts: 13 Member
    I would try ice for the first day or two, on/off for 20 minutes. I would then switch to warm compresses/moist heat. Important to keep moving despite the pain, otherwise you will stiffen up even more. Maybe look into getting a foam roller to help roll out your quads, hamstrings, and hip flexors? Gentle stretching and time will help relieve the pain. Most importantly, if it hurts doing any of the above, stop!
  • melissa6771
    melissa6771 Posts: 894 Member
    I had SI joint problems from a car accident too. Chiropractor helped, PT after made it worse (wish I hadn't gone, I felt so good before pt), then the chiropractor didn't help after whatever it is PT did to me, then I had a few injections that helped for a few months each time. Then I started losing weight, exercising and stretching, it's gotten much better since I started that! I was in pain for a year and a half. I get a teenie flare up every so often but it's barely anything.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    I had SI joint problems from a car accident too. Chiropractor helped, PT after made it worse (wish I hadn't gone, I felt so good before pt), then the chiropractor didn't help after whatever it is PT did to me, then I had a few injections that helped for a few months each time. Then I started losing weight, exercising and stretching, it's gotten much better since I started that! I was in pain for a year and a half. I get a teenie flare up every so often but it's barely anything.

    It probably has a lot to do with the individual PT. I had a great one with my neck injury, but she was on maternity leave when it flared again. The other guy didn't help at all, but at least didn't make it worse.
  • TswvNplooj
    TswvNplooj Posts: 60 Member
    ievent wrote: »
    I would try ice for the first day or two, on/off for 20 minutes. I would then switch to warm compresses/moist heat. Important to keep moving despite the pain, otherwise you will stiffen up even more. Maybe look into getting a foam roller to help roll out your quads, hamstrings, and hip flexors? Gentle stretching and time will help relieve the pain. Most importantly, if it hurts doing any of the above, stop!

    Thank you. Very useful. What is a foam roller?
  • TswvNplooj
    TswvNplooj Posts: 60 Member
    I had SI joint problems from a car accident too. Chiropractor helped, PT after made it worse (wish I hadn't gone, I felt so good before pt), then the chiropractor didn't help after whatever it is PT did to me, then I had a few injections that helped for a few months each time. Then I started losing weight, exercising and stretching, it's gotten much better since I started that! I was in pain for a year and a half. I get a teenie flare up every so often but it's barely anything.

    Wow that's a long time. Mine is so painful I can't even walk or stand. How would I exercise?
  • tkdchick2016
    tkdchick2016 Posts: 38 Member
    You need to see a professional like a physiotherapist, massage therapist or chiropractor. I have had this before and had it resolve with no meds. Meds just help with the symptoms (or are supposed to anyway), you need help with what is causing the symptoms (pain, etc.).
  • ievent
    ievent Posts: 13 Member
    GaoleeYaj wrote: »
    Thank you. Very useful. What is a foam roller?

    A foam roller is a high density foam "log", which you roll back and forth on that helps stretch muscles gently and release any tension. It's almost like a self-performed chiropractic adjustment!

  • Lucy1752
    Lucy1752 Posts: 499 Member
    My husband got relief through chiropractic treatment and doctor prescribed stretches/exercises. Meds alone are probably not enough especially if you are doing something in your daily life that is continually aggravating it (doc should be able to help you pinpoint that).

    This

    When I was dealing with it I also converted to a standing desk at work as my pain occurred mainly when sitting.
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    Also a fan of chiropractic (make sure he's not a complete quack) and yoga/stretching.
  • TswvNplooj
    TswvNplooj Posts: 60 Member
    Thank you
  • TswvNplooj
    TswvNplooj Posts: 60 Member
    Update! I went to see a spine doctor. He said I have bad arthritis on my L2-L4. Therefore my bones are deteriorating causing the cartridge to thin out and wedge. He thinks it's a pinch nerve on my L2 causing my sciatic nerve to flare up that's why I have pain down my right leg. Treatments are, steroid pills, muscle relaxer and pain killer. If it does not get better in 30 days then they will do injection. If injection doesn't work than surgery is last option.

    I went to see chiropractor and he said he treats this all the time. I may just skip the whole medical treatment and try the chiropractor first. Any thoughts?
  • joanna_82
    joanna_82 Posts: 151 Member
    GaoleeYaj wrote: »
    joanna_82 wrote: »
    I have SI joint problems but I keep it at bay with Pilates and stretching. When mine flares up the muscles around my hips back and glutes tense up. Acupuncture usually sorts out the muscle tightness almost instantly. Would recommend.

    Does it hurt? I'm terrified if needles.

    Not really. I'm not a needles fan but I just lie on my front so I can't see. The pain relief for me has been SO worth it.
  • leasah
    leasah Posts: 107 Member
    I went to pt for several months, now to stay pain free I use a foam roller and go to yoga or Pilates every week. Seriously yoga has kept me pain free and out of the chiropractor's office for almost a year now.