Iliac Hip Pain

Iliac hip pain occurs at the sacroiliac joint located on each side of the bottom of the back. The cause varies for each person but the result is always a painful situation in the back and hip joint.

Symptoms

• Symptoms include pain in the lower back radiating to the buttocks or front of groin. The patient will have problems rolling over in bed, getting in and out of a car and putting on shoes.

Cause

• Traumatic injury to the hip or a biomechanical injury that injures the protective cartilage of the hip is a common cause of iliac hip pain. Hormonal changes and weight gain during pregnancy puts strain on the spine and causes pain.

Diagnosis

• The symptoms are similar to sciatica and often mistaken. A physical exam is performed by a physician along with X-rays of the area. A common diagnosis tool is an injection of anesthetic in the area to isolate the pain source. A CAT scan or MRI is needed for diagnosis of soft tissue in some cases.

Treatment

• Injections used during diagnosis are used in some cases as treatment. Physical therapy teaches stretching and exercise to stabilize the area and reduce pain. Surgery is required in cases where these treatments do not eliminate pain during regular daily activity.

Prevention

• Having a healthy body weight and maintaining proper conditioning will reduce the risk of iliac hip pain or injury as it decreases the stress put on the joint.