How to Mend Your Sacroiliac Joint Pain (Sacroiliitis)

Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain can be caused by an acute trauma (a sudden accident or injury), spondyloarthropathies (a group of diseases that cause inflammatory arthritis of the spine), osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis, and pregnancy (at this point the pelvis changes to accommodate the bearing of a child and the birthing process). SI joint pain can be extremely difficult to diagnose, so it is imperative to consult a physician to examine symptoms and determine an appropriate treatment plan.

If you have an SI joint injury you will experience pain in your lower back, thighs or buttocks, and may also notice some referral pain in your legs. You should expect this pain to intensify when you perform any activity involving movement of your legs or hips. You will also experience a decreased range of motion in your back, hip or legs.

SI joint injuries are often healed through conservative treatment methods including Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy and Therapeutic Ultrasound.

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy

If you are experiencing a great deal of pain and inflammation you may want to explore the healing benefits of Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy (BFST). BFST decreases inflammation and increases blood circulation. Blood is the transport mechanism for oxygen, nutrients, water and antibodies, thus proper blood flow is essential when SI joint injuries. BFST is provided through the use of heat therapy which can be found in heating wrap products.

Check out Our Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy Lens

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Therapeutic ultrasound is a method of stimulating tissue beneath the skin's surface using sound waves. It is like a high frequency massage that can penetrate up to 4" below the surface of the skin. The heating and massaging effects of therapeutic ultrasound have 3 primary benefits: it can speed the healing process, reduce swelling, and heal damaged tissue softening scar tissue. Essentially, the nutrient absorption rate and blood flow within the injured ankle area will be greatly enhanced through the use of an ultrasound device. Portable ultrasound therapy is recommended and administered by many doctors and physical therapists.

When applied directly to the skin, the transducer head of an ultrasound unit cannot effectively transfer sound waves into the body. A conductive medium (ultrasound gel) is required to facilitate therapeutic ultrasound.

Ultrasound can also be used to administer therapeutic medicines into the body which provides the added benefit of delivering soothing medicated gel to the site of the pain. This is a process known as Phonophoresis.

Check out Our Phonophoresis Therapy Lens