Content
Sacroiliitis is one of the main causes of hip pain and happens due to inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, which is at the bottom of the spine, where it connects with the hip and can affect only one side of the body or both. This inflammation causes pain in the lower back or buttocks that can extend to the legs.
Sacroiliitis can be caused by falls, spinal problems, pregnancy, among others, since it happens when there is some damage to the joints and the treatment must be indicated by an orthopedist, which may include the use of medications, physiotherapy and other exercises.
Causes of pain due to sacroiliitis
The main symptom of sacroiliitis is pain that affects the lower back and buttocks, which can expand to the groin, legs and feet. Sometimes, if accompanied by an infection, it can cause fever.
There are some factors that can make this pain worse, such as standing for a long time, walking up or down stairs, running or walking with long strides and carrying more weight on one leg than on the other.
Sacroiliitis can be caused by situations such as:
- Fall or accident that has caused damage to the sacroiliac joints;
- Joint overload, as in the case of jumping athletes and runners;
- Diseases like wear and gout arthritis;
- Spine problems;
- Have one leg bigger than the other;
- Joint infections;
In addition, sacroiliitis is more common in people with obesity or overweight, with advanced age and in pregnant women.
How to confirm the diagnosis
Since the symptoms of sacroiliitis are common to other spinal problems, to obtain a reliable diagnosis the doctor must use more than one method to confirm the presence of the disease. Usually, a physical examination is performed at the doctor's office in addition to imaging tests such as X-rays and even MRI.
People diagnosed with this disease should be aware that they are more likely to develop ankylosing spondylitis in the future, which is a serious degenerative disease. Learn more about ankylosing spondylitis and how to treat it.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for sacroiliitis should be guided by the doctor and aims to relieve symptoms and reduce crises, which can be done through medications, pain relief techniques or exercises.
As for drug treatment, this can be done with analgesics, anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. In the most serious situations, injections of corticosteroids can be applied directly to the joint and in case of infection by the presence of microorganisms in the area, treatment is done with antibiotics.
However, despite treating, it is common for people with this inflammation to have it several times throughout their lives, when there is a genetic predisposition. For example, when there is a gap in the hip joint, which is usually aggravated by the difference in length of the legs, when one is a few centimeters longer than the other. This alteration ends up causing a decompensation in the entire body structure including the joints of the spine, leading to the persistence of sacroiliitis and for this reason it is recommended the continuous use of an insole inside the shoes to adjust the height of the leg and reduce the overload of the joint.
Other treatment options may include applying hot and cold compresses over the region to relieve pain and inflammation, physiotherapy sessions for postural re-education and strengthening and stretching exercises. See 5 exercises indicated for sacroiliitis.
Is sacroiliitis in pregnant women common?
Sacroiliitis is a common problem among infants, as during pregnancy the body undergoes changes and the hip and sacroiliac joints come loose to welcome the fetus. In addition, due to the weight of the belly, many women end up changing the way they walk and developing inflammation.