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Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Your Sacroiliac Joint (SI-Joint) connects the large, curved iliac bone at the top of your pelvis to the sacrum bone, a triangular shaped bone in your lower back. These large bones support the full weight of the body, and if they are misaligned due to an injury or a fall, sharp pain can occur.

  • Recurring pain in the lower back (L5), buttocks, hips, pelvis, groin
  • Referred tingling pain from the legs (radiculopathy)
  • Pain that occurs when rising from a seated position
  • Numbness or weakness in legs
  • Leg weakness or instability
  • Pain from one of the SI joints
  • Sleep disturbance
Most commonly, a fall on your backside from ice skating or skiing, or a car accident can misalign the SI Joint. Lifting heavy weights while turning can stress the joint. Pregnant women are also prone to suffer SI Joint pain, especially in the last trimester.

Trauma
A car accident, sports injury or a fall on your backside can cause SI joint pain. You can also damage it by lifting heavy objects and twisting in such a way that you stress the joint that connects the two bones.

Pregnancy
Women in their last trimester are prone to SI-Joint pain due to the natural expansion of the pelvic region and weight gain. Often the mother’s walking pattern is changed due to the pelvic pain.

Functional Stress
Pain can arise from a Functional Leg Length Discrepancy (FLLD) or long term stressors such as scoliosis, hip replacements and back surgeries. Even using the iliac crest as a source for bone graft material has been known to loosen the SI Joint.

Osteoarthritis
SI Joints, like any synovial joint in your body, can be stressed by the degenerative impact of osteoarthritis. With the loss of cushioning at the joint due to the persistent rubbing of the two bones, pain will occur, synovitis will generate bone spurs, and the joint may even lock up.

The long term success of Dr. Greenberg’s patients is attributed to a specialized approach of the examination process. Deemed “The Greenberg Method,” this strategy not only looks into the area of damage and pain, but also evaluates the mechanics and structure of the bone and joints related to the area of the pain. For example, a patient who comes in with a lower back problem explains that past treatment in the area has not brought any relief. However, after an examination of the back along with the pelvis, hips, knees, and feet via The Greenberg Method, Dr. Greenberg discovers that the pain is rooted in a pelvic tilt. While an isolated joint treatment ignores physiology and the evaluation of movement, The Greenberg Method’s full-body examination produces a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan. In return, the patient experiences a greater reduction in pain and improvement in function, which helps them get back on their feet to resume their daily routines, pain free.

You are not alone if your SI Joint dysfunction keeps coming back. In a recent study, 20% of diagnoses were flat out wrong. The good news is that there is a regenerative alternative to surgery for treating SI Joint pain. Dr. Scott Greenberg will take the time to find the real cause of your lower back pain, and then help your body’s own healing processes rebuild the affected joint systems in your lower back, hip and sacrum areas.

He and his team will perform The Greenberg Method, including a review of your most recent radiographs. They will carefully examine and palpate your back, hip and sacrum to comprehensively understand why your kinetic systems are out of balance.

If you are an appropriate candidate for The Greenberg Method, Dr. Greenberg will treat your SI Joint by recommending the healing and synergistic cascade of Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Treatments.

A typical treatment course may call for several injections performed every 3 weeks, depending on the patient’s progress. The treatments strengthen and renew sinews, ligaments, tendons, nerves and cartilage using the body’s own healing components to stabilize the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, facet joints, SI Joints, pelvis and sacral regions. If we find additional areas that are causing pain during the procedures, we will try to fix those too. As the spine and joints in the sacrum area grow stronger, your SI Joint pain should dissipate.

The Greenberg Method is an excellent choice for those who are looking for an alternative treatment that will improve your SI Joint syndrome. Our team treats the whole person, not just your symptoms. We work to renew you physically and improve your overall sense of wellness, both emotionally and physically.

If you or a loved one is looking for a new strategy to treat chronic aches and pains, fill out the form on this page to schedule an appointment or call Dr. Greenberg’s office today at (833) 440-4325.

A systematic evaluation of prevalence and diagnostic accuracy of sacroiliac joint interventions. Simopoulos, Manchikanti, Singh, Gupta, et al; Pain Physician. 2012 May-Jun;15(3):E305-44.