Sacroilitis
(Part 2/2)
What are complications of sacroiliitis?
If it’s not treated soon enough, the pain from sacroiliitis can affect your ability to move. Untreated pain can also disrupt your sleep and lead to mental health conditions like depression.
What tests will providers use to diagnose sacroiliitis?
Your provider might use imaging tests to take pictures of your sacroiliac joints, including:
• Pelvis X-rays
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Your provider might also use blood tests to rule out infections and other issues that cause inflammation in your body.
Diagnosis and Tests
How is sacroiliitis diagnosed?
A healthcare provider will diagnose sacroiliitis with a physical exam and some imaging tests. They’ll examine your back, hips and legs. Tell your provider when you first noticed pain or other symptoms and if certain activities make the pain worse. Talk to your provider about other health conditions or issues you have. This can help them determine what’s causing the sacroiliitis.
Your provider might have you perform some physical movements to check your range of motion (how far you can move a part of your body without feeling pain). They might press on your sacroiliac joints or the area around them. Tell them if any position, movement or type of pressure makes the pain worse.
What tests will providers use to diagnose sacroiliitis?
Your provider might use imaging tests to take pictures of your sacroiliac joints, including:
*Pelvis X-rays
*Computed tomography (CT) scan
*Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Management and Treatment
How is sacroiliitis treated?
Physical therapy is the most common treatment for sacroiliitis. A physical therapist will give you stretches and exercises to strengthen the muscles around your sacroiliac joints. This will take pressure off your joints and help keep them more stable. Doing exercises for sacroiliitis will also help you increase your range of motion in your sacroiliac joints.
Your healthcare provider might also suggest you manage pain with medications, including:
*NSAIDs. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are medications like aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen. Don’t take NSAIDs for more than 10 days in a row without talking to your provider.
*Muscle relaxers. Muscle relaxers (muscle relaxants) are prescription medications that treat muscle pain by preventing your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain.
*Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are prescription medications that relieve pain and inflammation. Your provider might inject a corticosteroid directly into your affected joint.
It’s less common, but your provider might suggest a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to permanently block nerves in your joint from sending pain signals to your brain.
You might need to work with a rheumatologist, a specialist who treats inflammatory diseases.
Sacroiliitis surgery
It’s rare to need surgery for sacroiliitis. Your provider might recommend surgery if physical therapy and other treatments like RFA haven’t improved your pain.
Your surgeon might perform a joint fusion-permanently fastening the joint together with surgical screws. They’ll tell you which procedure you’ll need and what to expect while you’re recovering.
Outlook / Prognosis
Is sacroiliitis permanent?
If you have inflammatory arthritis, the damage in your affected joints might be permanent. Pregnant women who experience sacroiliitis usually only have it while they’re pregnant.
Most people with sacroiliitis can treat the cause with medication and manage their symptoms with physical therapy. Talk to your provider if your symptoms come back (recur) or get worse.
Prevention
Can I prevent sacroiliitis?
There’s usually no way to prevent sacroiliitis.
You can lower your chances of developing arthritis by:
*Avoiding tobacco products.
*Doing low-impact exercise.
*Following a diet and exercise plan that’s healthy for you.