Pain & Swelling Relief in the Sacroiliac Joint

Your body has two sacroiliac joints. They are situated on either side of the base of the spine. Sacroiliac joints help to form the back of the pelvic girdle, and they aid the legs with twisting motions. Sacroiliac joint pain is common, and is caused by injury, bio-mechanical problems, hormonal changes or inflammatory joint disease. There are several treatment options available for sacroiliac joint swelling and pain.

Treatment

• Abstain from activities that cause your sacroiliac joints to swell or become painful. Take care to avoid movements that may further stress the joints. Always bend and lift properly, and concentrate on turning your body in one particular direction, rather than simply twisting the upper portion of your body.

  Exercise regularly to maintain muscle strength and correct posture. Physical therapy may be helpful in strengthening the muscles that support the sacroiliac joints and improving the motion of the joints themselves. Physical therapy may also entail the application of hot and cold packs to alleviate swelling, soreness and pain.

  Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen to ease joint and muscle inflammation. Speak to your physician if the over-the-counter options are not strong enough. He may be able to recommend a prescription strength NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
  Steroid injections that are administered directly into the sacroiliac joints are also a treatment option. These must be administered by your physician.

  Have your body evaluated to ensure that there are no bio-mechanical causes for sacroiliac joint pain and swelling. Bio-mechanical causes could include stress fractures, inflammatory diseases, or any type of condition that alters your normal walking pattern. Leg length discrepancies and pain in the hips, knees, ankles or feet can contribute to pain and problems in the lower back and sacroiliac joints. Treat any of these underlying conditions to alleviate pain and swelling.

  In some cases, surgery may be recommended. According to MedicineNet.com, sacroiliac joint surgery involves fusing the joints together and removing the cartilage that covers the surfaces of the joints. The surgery prevents any motion of the joints, which usually relieves the pain and swelling.