Remedies For Sacroiliitis

Sacroiliitis is an inflammation of the joint where the lower spine and pelvis connect. The inflammation could be on one or both of the joints known as sacroiliac joints. The inflammation can cause pain to the lower back and buttocks. The pain can also extend down one or both legs and can be worsened by climbing stairs and standing for too long. For most individuals with sacroiliac joint pain, injections and physical therapy are enough to ease the pain. However, if these treatments do not resolve the pain in six months, physicians are likely to recommend more intense treatment. Surgery will be recommended for the most extreme cases. Look at some of the specific remedies for sacroiliitis now.

Joint Fusion

Because surgery is taxing on the body, doctors will only recommend this as a last result when most other treatments fail. It can also be recommended if patients have significant hip or groin pain, stiffness, or immobility that makes it impossible for them to perform routine tasks. There are two types of joint fusion surgery: open surgery and a minimally invasive one. For the minimally invasive surgery, a surgeon will make small cuts on the patient's buttocks. Using an x-ray for direction, they will then drill holes in the sacrum and ilium and insert the implant to make the joint more stable. Open surgery, on the other hand, involves a surgeon making a seven to eight-inch-long cut. They will then open up muscle and tissue to access and repair the joint. Minimally invasive surgery has shorter recovery periods and less pain after the procedure as compared to open surgery.

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation can be recommended as part of physical therapy. The procedure is used to ease pain and discomfort by helping muscles learn to contract. Enhancing muscle contractions not only relieves pain but also increases strength, functioning, and helps manage inflammation. During this treatment, electrodes are hooked onto an electric machine and placed around the sacroiliac joint. These electrodes can be placed on the muscle, skin, or implanted. The therapist will place the electrodes depending on how deep they want the currents to go.

Similarly, the way the muscle changes shape during treatment is also a determining factor of how the electrode placement is done. The sessions will typically last for ten to fifteen minutes, and patients should feel a mildly prickly sensation. If patients experience an overly intense feeling, they should alert their therapist. Electrical stimulation is recommended for mild to moderate back pain. The therapist will couple it with physical exercises patients can do at home.

Radiofrequency Denervation

Radiofrequency denervation is also known as radiofrequency ablation or radiofrequency neurotomy. This treatment is recommended when pain can be attributed to the joints. In addition, it is recommended when other treatments, such as steroid treatment, are only offering temporary relief. A radiofrequency procedure is an outpatient procedure that takes roughly thirty minutes to administer. In this procedure, radiofrequency energy is used to cut off the nerve supply to the painful joint using thermal denervation. Before the procedure, the patient will be placed under local anesthesia and light intravenous sedation. A medical practitioner will then use x-ray to guide them to the nerves leading to the inflamed joint. Once the specific joint is located, a heat lesion is generated to kill off the nerve.

TNF Inhibitors

TNF (tumor necrosis factor) is a protein the body’s immune system produces. Certain conditions including arthritis can cause an overproduction of TNF. This excess protein is what causes the inflammation. If patients have sacroiliitis from a form of spondyloarthritis such as ankylosing spondylitis, TNF inhibitors may be helpful. This class of drug work targets a substance called tumor necrosis that causes inflammation. As with any other medication, this one can be very effective in one patient and less effective on another patient. Doctors will monitor its effectiveness and advice on a different course of treatment if this method proves ineffective. If patients experience side effects, it is important for them to discuss them with a doctor. In most cases, however, the benefits will outweigh the risks.

Pain Relief Medication

Depending on a patient's pain level, their doctor might prescribe pain relief medication or steroid medications. The medication a doctor prescribes will attempt to reduce pain, and they can give stronger medication if milder versions do not help alleviate symptoms. Doctors can also inject corticosteroids into the joint. Corticosteroids work by blocking and alleviating the effects of inflammation. When individuals have an injury such as sacroiliitis, the body’s immune system releases chemicals. These chemicals cause inflammation and also allow the body to heal. However, if this inflammation gets out of hand, it can cause even more harm than the initial injury. This is why controlling inflammation is important and why doctors might recommend joint fusion using steroids. However, this is only possible several times a year because the steroids in this can weaken tendons and your bone’s joints. This method of treatment is likely to be used after other methods of treatment have failed. If this method fails as well, doctors may then recommend surgery.