Sacroiliac Joint Pain Specialist

Interventional Pain Institute Our Services Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Interventional Pain Institute

Interventional Pain Management & Minimally Invasive Spine Specialist located in Chesterfield, Festus, Bridgeton, and Troy, MO

Sacroiliac joint pain is difficult to diagnose because symptoms mimic other common pain conditions like a herniated disc. Proper diagnosis is essential to get relief from sacroiliac joint pain. Board-certified and fellowship-trained interventional pain management specialist, Ramis Gheith, MD, MS, and the team at Interventional Pain Institute specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of sacroiliac joint pain. For expert care from a compassionate team, call the office in Chesterfield, Festus, or Bridgeton, Missouri, or book online today.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain Q & A

What are sacroiliac joints?

Your sacroiliac joints connect the iliac bones in your hips to the sacral bone in your spine. They form the visible dimples in your lower back, just below your waist. These joints provide support and stability and absorb shock while walking or lifting. 

The bones that make up the joint are cushioned by cartilage and held together by ligaments and muscles. 

What causes sacroiliac joint pain?

You may develop sacroiliac joint pain when the ligaments that hold the joints together are too tight or too loose. Injury, pregnancy, and childbirth are common causes of sacroiliac pain.

You may also develop pain in the joint from the degeneration of the cartilage that occurs with aging. Without the cushion, the bones of your sacroiliac joint rub together, causing inflammation and pain. 

What are sacroiliac joint pain symptoms?

Sacroiliac joint pain symptoms are similar to other common pain conditions, including herniated discs, sciatica, and hip arthritis. Common symptoms include:

  • Pain in the lower back or buttocks
  • Pain that radiates into your hip, groin, or thigh
  • Numbness or tingling in the leg
  • Weakness in the leg

With sacroiliac joint pain, your symptoms may only affect one side of your body. However, it’s not unusual to feel symptoms on both sides. 

How is sacroiliac joint pain diagnosed?

When you visit Interventional Pain Institute with symptoms that sound like sacroiliac joint pain, Dr. Gheith and the team conduct in-depth clinical exams, so you get an accurate diagnosis.

During your exam, they review your symptoms, medical history, and perform a physical exam. They may also request diagnostic imaging, such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI, to rule out other causes.

To definitively diagnose sacroiliac joint pain, Dr. Gheith performs a diagnostic injection into the joint. He then has you monitor your pain over the next week and diagnoses sacroiliac joint pain if you experience a 75% reduction in pain after the injection. 

How is sacroiliac joint pain treated?

Dr. Gheith and the team at Interventional Pain Institute create individualized treatment plans to alleviate sacroiliac joint pain. Your treatment plan may include:

  • Physical therapy
  • Stretching exercises
  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Joint injections
  • Regenerative therapies
  • Platelet-rich plasma injections
  • Simple and complex nerve blocks

The pain management clinic also offers radiofrequency ablation to treat sacroiliac joint pain for patients who respond positively to a nerve block. 

For relief from your sacroiliac joint pain, call Interventional Pain Institute, or use the online booking tool to schedule a consultation.

What we offer

Services