Sacroiliitis Buttock Pain

Sacroiliitis, Buttock Pain And Back Pain

Sacroiliitis is a form of buttock pain and back pain that can be hard for your doctor to diagnose. It can easily be mistaken for a muscle problem, herniated disc or sciatica. It can also be mistaken for a disease that causes inflammatory arthritis in the spine called spondyloarthropathies.

Someone who has sacroiliitis is likely to experience buttock pain, back stiffness,and possibly pain in the thighs. Any motion of the lower torso or hips will result in discomfort.

Someone with this condition will find it painful to walk, and will probably limp.

The sacroiliac joints make up part of your spinal column. They connect your lower spine to your pelvis. When these joints become inflamed, the result is sacroiliitis.

There are a number of possible causes for sacroiliitis. Often, it happens after an injurythe spinal column, pelvis, buttocks or lower back. Being pregnant will stretch the pelvis, which can result in sacroiliitis. Certain types of infections may also be responsible. A condition known as ankylosing spondylitis is another cause. So is degenerative arthritis.

Treating sacroiliitis usually depends on the severity of the condition. Your doctor will discuss the range of possibilities with you.

A number of medications can be used to treat sacroiliitis. Typically, these medications include corticosteroids, NSAIDs, DMARDs and TNF inhibitors.

Corticosteroids can be extremely effective in arresting joint damage and reducing pain and inflammation. But you must be cautious because they can cause side effects when used for long periods of time.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS are effective pain relievers because they reduce inflammation and swelling. There have been some side effects associated with NSAIDs, including hypertension, kidney and liver damage, and stomach problems like bleeding and indigestion.

NSAIDs should only be taken only when recommended by your doctor. Stroke and heart attack can be a side effect in certain individuals.

Naproxen and indomethacin are two types of NSAIDs that are often 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. These are most beneficial when used in the early stages of sacroiliitis to help slow down the disease and prevent permanent damage.

Finally, there's a class of drugs known as TNF inhibitors. These block a cell protein that can cause inflammation, which can help reduce some of the stiffness, swelling and pain.

Unfortunately, these medications can cost a lot of money, so they’re usually used only as a last resort.

However, sometimes buttock pain and back pain caused by sacroiliitis can be so severe that patients feel the the expense is justified.

Rest is appropriate in all cases. Your body needs time to heal. Rest also reduces the possibility of aggravation or reinjury.

Physical therapy can help. Your physical therapists can recommend exercises to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility.

Many people who endure aches and pains as they pass into their senior years simply assume such pain simply comes with advancing age. You should not make this assumption. Anyone coping with any type of back pain or buttock pain, especially sacroiliitis should see their doctor for a diagnosis.

As is true with so many other disorders, sacroiliitis is easier to treat in the early stages before permanent joint damage occurs.