SacroiliacChronic pain is one of the most commonly diagnosed ailments in the medical community. It also ranks as one of the least understood. Patients complain of pain and physicians do an evaluation to pinpoint imbalances in the body that may be attributing to that pain. However, if no imbalance can be pinpointed, the symptom of pain is left without a cause. This is frequently the situation for sufferers of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SJD).

It’s a condition characterized by chronic pain in the lower back, hips, and legs, stemming from the sacroiliac (SI) joint. But while the condition has a name, it’s more frequently used as a catchall term for ongoing pain in this area. This is due to the fact that the cause of pain often goes undiagnosed.

At Ideal Spine Health Center in Boise, ID, we’re no strangers to SJD as a condition. We understand how agonizing it can be to live with, and how frustrating a lack of answers can be. That’s why we rely on the quantitative approach of Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) when diagnosing and treating patients with SJD.

Understanding the SI joint

One of the few things that’s known about SJD is that it invariably involves your SI joint’s range of motion. Too much or too little movement can contribute to extensive, ongoing pain:

  • Hyper-mobility or a noticeable degree of instability in the SI joint is usually attributed to lower back and hip pain. This can also lead to peripheral conditions such as a herniated disc or nerve compression in the lumbar spine.
  • Hypo-mobility or stiffness of the SI joint will cause pain further down the legs, similar to sciatic conditions.

While this correlation is a good step in diagnosing SJD, it’s not known what causes the SI joint to stiffen or loosen. Moreover, determining instability of the SI joint is extremely hard, since it’s very small and impossible to observe during physical assessments.

The CBP approach

The reason CBP is so effective at helping to diagnose SJD is thanks to the radiological approach from the outset. Radiological imaging sheds light on the hard-to-assess SI joint, showing its condition and allowing for observation.

Imaging also helps to narrow a diagnosis. Where a qualitative evaluation might point to sciatica or a herniated disc as the source of pain, CBP can rule these things out by providing a comprehensive picture of the spine in relation to ideal. If curvatures match up and there are no signs of translation, herniation or subluxation, a CBP-trained chiropractor will deepen their investigation. It’s here that SJD becomes an option.

Finally, CBP’s radiological approach is a far less invasive way to check for SJD than traditional means. Alternatively, the best way to measure SI joint movement is through injection blocks. This can cause discomfort and anxiety for many receiving them.

Remediating SI joint pain

SJD is a chronic condition, which means it requires a sustainable solution. At Ideal Spine Health Center in Boise, ID, we leverage CBP to create that sustainable approach to relief, based on the unique condition of our SJD patients. Through a targeted approach, we could assist in restoring balance to your SI joint to quell SJD pain and help you manage the condition.

If you’ve been diagnosed with general, chronic pain or SJD, get in touch with us today for a free consultation!

Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.