Back pain with sacroiliac joint blockage

Lower back pain is common. Back pain can have a variety of causes, 

for example, a blockage of the sacroiliac joint (ISG), the so-called ISG blockage.

Pain caused by an SI joint blockage usually occurs in the lower back area at the level of the pelvis and the gluteal muscles. It can radiate into the back of the legs up to the knee or up to the front into the groin.

In about 15 to 30 percent of patients with chronic lower back pain, a malfunction or blockage of this joint is the cause. Diagnosis is not easy to ask, and therefore it is easily overlooked.

Causes of an ISG blockage

The sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum - this bony plate is located below the lumbar vertebrae - and the upper pelvic blades (ilium). This joint is held in place by strong ligaments, muscles and other structures. It not only supports and stabilizes the upper body in its movement, but also acts as a buffer between the spine and the pelvis. For this reason, only little movement is possible here.

Pain in this joint usually occurs due to a current or previous injury, such as a fall on the hip or when the body loses balance. Constant stress, such as from jogging or climbing, can also cause the blockage.

Weak abdominal, back or hip muscles, as well as legs of different lengths, gait disorders and degenerative joint wear (osteoarthritis) can also promote the development of an SI joint blockage.

Typical pain in an ISG blockage

The pain caused by an ISG blockage in the lower back area, at the level of the pelvis and the gluteal muscles, is usually deep and pulling. It can also radiate into the back of the legs as far as the knee or into the front of the groin. The pain can occur suddenly or increase slowly. It can be felt on one side or both sides of the pelvis and becomes worse when the patient is standing or walking, especially when they turn or alternate between putting weight on their legs, such as when climbing stairs.

Anyone who suffers from back pain should take action as soon as the pain begins:

• Resting does not bring any advantages. On the contrary: those who exercise (pain-free!) despite back pain recover more quickly. 
• Applying a heat or cold pack to the affected area for 15 minutes three to four times a day promotes blood circulation.

With back pain to Doctor If you have back pain, you should not wait too long before going to the doctor. There are also serious causes for Back painwhere a quick diagnosis can prevent further complications.

This is especially true if numbness or tingling in the legs also occurs, if the pain increases significantly at night or when lying down and, of course, if there is a possible bone fracture.

It is not easy to identify the exact cause of back pain, sometimes there are several causes at the same time. For this reason, the diagnosis must be made thoroughly. This care is particularly important because therapy will only be successful if the diagnosis is correct.

Conservative measures for back pain

Once the diagnosis has been made, physical therapy should begin immediately. This includes pain-relieving measures, physiotherapy and exercises to strengthen the body's center. Building up trunk and hip muscles helps to stabilize the sacroiliac joint in the long term. At the same time, posture when standing and moving must be corrected and trained. This will ensure that the joint is properly stressed in the future and irritations will subside.

There are other options that can help with pain caused by an SI joint blockage:

• medication
The doctor can prescribe stronger painkillers or drugs to relax the muscles, but these should only be taken temporarily. Local painkillers are ointments that contain a small dose of menthol, camphor or lbuprofen, or pain patches that release the active ingredient into the skin.

• Pelvic girdle
A tight, belt-like band immobilizes and stabilizes the affected sacroiliac joint, which can relieve pain.

• Joint mobilization
The sacroiliac joint blockage can be carefully released manually and the joint mobilized. This is the prerequisite for being able to move the joint properly and therefore pain-free again.

When back pain becomes chronic

If the pain does not subside, a specialist for Orthopedics, neurosurgery or pain therapy may be called in.