Sacroiliac Joint Pain Remedy

Sacroiliac joint pain or dysfunction occurs where sacrum vertebrae (lower back) attach to the acetabulum of the illium (hip) bone. Because of the complex array of muscles, ligaments and nerves in this area, it is often hard to pinpoint the exact cause of pain. Women are more prone to this condition than men because their sacrum is shorter and wider. Symptoms can include radiating pain that shoots down the legs, knees or ankles. Remedies or treatment for sacroiliac joint pain usually include a combination of rest, ice, heat, massage and rehabilitation exercises.

Rest, Ice & Heat

• If you suffer from sacroiliac joint pain, it is best to abstain from certain physical activities. This will prevent further aggravation of your condition. During this time, you should use ice at 20-minute intervals throughout the day (every 3-4 hours) to reduce inflammation and pain. Ice minimizes swelling and consequential pain by causing vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), which limits the flow of blood and lymph fluid to the area. Use ice packs to compress the coldness of the ice directly against your lower back (sacrum and hip region above tailbone). Once the initial swelling and pain have subsided a bit, you can use heating pads or take hot baths to promote blood flow (with its healing properties) to the affected area.

Medications

• Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen can also help reduce swelling. Use them in conjunction with your other treatments. These medications are Cox-2 inhibitors which reduce inflammation and pain by minimizing the effects of Cox-2 enzymes and prostaglandins (chemicals), the body's natural inflammatory response to back stress or injuries. If your pain is more severe, a doctor may temporarily put you on steroids.

Massage

• According to Sportsinjuryclinic.net, a popular resource for sports injury information, massage can help relieve any soft tissue tension surrounding the sacroiliac joint. Massage can also eliminate scar tissue in surrounding muscles and ligaments as well as increase blood flow.

Exercises

• Certain stretching and strength-building exercises can also stimulate blood flow to the sacroiliac joint, which brings oxygen and nutrients for healing. Following are a few exercises you can perform to alleviate sacroiliac pain.

  Lie on a hard floor, with your knees pointed up, and press your back firmly against it. Hold this position for two to five seconds, then relax. Repeat this movement 10 times.

  While in the same position, pull both of your knees toward your chest and stretch your lower back and hip muscles. Again, hold this position for two to five seconds and do 10 repetitions.

  Extend your legs, twist your body to the left and extend your right leg past your left one. Stretch the right side of your hips and back for several seconds, then repeat the movement on the other side.