What Is Sacroiliac Joint Pain?
The sacroiliac (SI) joints connect the sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine) to the iliac bones of the pelvis. They bear and transfer the load of the upper body to the legs and absorb shock during walking and running. When the SI joints become inflamed or dysfunctional, they can produce significant pain in the low back, buttock, hip, and sometimes the leg — a pattern that closely mimics lumbar disc herniation or hip pathology, making accurate diagnosis essential.
SI joint dysfunction is estimated to be the primary pain generator in 15–25% of patients presenting with chronic low back pain. It is particularly common in women, especially following pregnancy and childbirth, and in patients with inflammatory arthritides like ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis. Diagnosis is confirmed through a combination of clinical examination, provocative tests, and diagnostic SI joint injection.
Symptoms
- One-sided low back pain just below the belt line
- Pain in the buttock, hip, or posterior thigh (rarely extends below the knee)
- Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or standing
- Pain transitioning from sitting to standing
- Increased pain with stair climbing or single-leg stance activities
- Morning stiffness that improves with activity (inflammatory pattern)
Treatment Options at Our Katy Practice
Dr. Qureshi takes a multimodal, non-surgical approach to pain management. Treatment recommendations are based on your diagnosis, imaging findings, symptom severity, and prior treatment history.
- Fluoroscopic-guided SI joint injections for diagnostic confirmation and therapeutic relief
- Sacral lateral branch blocks as a precursor to radiofrequency ablation
- Sacral lateral branch radiofrequency ablation for long-lasting SI joint pain relief
- PRP therapy for SI joint ligamentous laxity and regenerative support
- Physical therapy and SI joint stabilization exercises