It’s possible you’ve never heard of a condition called sacroiliitis. But if you’ve been suffering from buttock pain, or pain in your lower back, sacroiliitis may be the reason.
Sacroiliitis can be hard for your doctor to diagnose. The symptoms are similar to other conditions that cause back pain, such as damage to the sciatic nerve, a herniated disk, or a pulled or strained muscle. It can also be mistaken for a disease that causes inflammatory arthritis in the spine called spondyloarthropathies.
Someone with sacroiliitis is likely to experience buttock pain, back stiffness,and possibly pain in the thighs. The slightest movement of the lower back or hips will trigger discomfort. Pain and stiffness are likely to restrict your range of motion when you have sacroiliitis.
In addition, symptoms of sacroiliitis can present themselves in other areas of the body. Inflammation in one or both eyes may occur. There may also be a fever, and possibly a skin condition called psoriasis.
Sacroiliitis makes walking painful because strain placed on your sacroiliac joints. You’ll probably find yourself limping.
There are many things that can cause sacroiliitis. A traumatic injury to the lower back or buttock area is a frequent cause. Being pregnant will stretch the pelvis, which can result in sacroiliitis. Certain types of infections may also be responsible. Arthritis associated with spondyloarthropathies such as ankylosing spondylitis and degenerative arthritis can also cause it.
Treatment usually depends on the severity of the condition. Your doctor will discuss several possibilities with you.
Resting is always a good idea. This not only allows your body time to heal, but it reduces any risk of aggravating your condition.
Exercises may help reduce some of your discomfort while improving your range of motion.
Several kinds of medications are appropriate for treating sacroiliitis. Typically, these medications include corticosteroids, NSAIDs, DMARDs and TNF inhibitors.
Corticosteroids relieve pain and inflammation. They also slow joint damage, but shouldn’t be used for extended periods of time because they can cause serious side effects.
NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also extremely effective for relieving pain by reducing swelling and inflammation. There have been some side effects associated with NSAIDs, including high blood pressure, kidney and liver damage, and stomach problems like bleeding and indigestion.
Some people are more likely to have a stroke or heart attack when they take NSAIDs, so always consult your doctor first.
Naproxen and indomethacin are two types of NSAIDs that are frequently used to treat sacroiliitis.
DMARDs are another type of medication that’s used to limit joint damage. DMARD is an abbreviation for disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. They’re appropriate for slowing down sacroiliitis and are especially helpful when used in the early stages of the condition.
Lastly, there are TNF inhibitors. These reduce stiffness, swelling and pain by blocking a cell protein that can cause inflammation.
Unfortunately, some of the medications used to reduce the discomfort of sacroiliitis are very expensive. Doctors and patients often choose to use them only as a last resort.
However, sometimes buttock pain and back pain caused by sacroiliitis can be so extreme that patients will pay the expense.
Many people who experience aches and pains as they get older simply assume such pains are a natural part of getting older. This can be a dangerous assumption. Anyone experiencing any type of back pain or buttock pain, especially sacroiliitis should see their medical professional for a diagnosis.
As is true with so many other diseases, sacroiliitis is easier to treat in the beginning before permanent joint damage occurs.
Related topics: sacroiliitis and buttock pain and sciatica. Neal Kennedy is a former TV and radio reporter. To read more of his articles, click on buttock pain.
