Today, i would like to discuss about a very common problem that is being suffered by many people (both men & women). Unfortunately, this health issue is being misdiagnosed & is being given several names other than actually what it is..!
Many patients of mine complain of a pain in the lower back & when i ask them to show the region where the pain is..they show an area in their lower back which is just adjacent to the spine & is exactly at the starting of the buttock region. They complain of a radiating pain too...by spending 5 minutes with a patient (by physical examination & special tests - not the usual lab tests or any kind of radiology, but they are just manual tests), a doctor can definitely diagnose it properly.
This conditions which i am going to discuss now is called SACROILITIS..
SACROILITIS
There are 2 sacro-iliac joints present for everyone of us. If you can palpate your pelvis..exactly where we wear the belt...just 2" beside the spine...is present the sacroiliac joint (on either side). Whenever a person lifts some heavy weight semi-consciously or if a person sits for a long time with his wallet in his back pocket or drives a car for long distances with his wallet in his back pocket or does any abnormal activities like jumping from heights or so...there is every chance of getting this condition. This condition is very commonly seen in pregnants, especially in those who have weak back & weak abdominal muscles.
The pain is mainly local...at the injured site & usually radiates to the legs (behind the thighs, into the calves & sometimes into the feet too). Hence, it is misdiagnosed as Sciatica.
But if the doctor does some manual tests, he will notice that it is Sacroilitis. In this condition, the problem arises in the joint & not in the spine & there is no need to panic imagining about some kind of nerve compression or so.
But yes, the pain would be severe, will not allow the person to either stand or sit or lie down. In severe conditions, the patient can't even change his posture while he is in lying position.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE JOINT....
As it's been already explained...Sacroilitis may occur because the person has lifted heavy weight or has been sitting for a long time with his wallet in his back pocket or because of some abnormal movement, the sacroiliac joint which is less mobile (10-15 Hz), now moves abruptly & misses its alignment causing an internal swelling in the joint, which in turn leads to the radiating pain & spasm of all the related muscles of the lower back & pelvis.
Many patients ask me as how much weight can they lift?
There is no answer for this question because it depends upon their strength which, obviously, varies from person to person. A 10 kg. weight may be heavy for a lady to lift but might be easier for a worker.
The principle is :
Increase your strength & be active otherwise you will have to be compromised in your independence.
WHAT TO DO...FOR PAIN:
Rush to a Physiotherapist.
He will mobilize the sacro-iliac joint & re-align the joint properly.
He may want to stretch your gluteus maximus, hamstrings or piriformis muscles.
He may treat you with Laser therapy (works wonderfully) or Ultra-sound therapy or both in a combination.. let him decide.
Later, he will teach you a few back strengthening exercises which have to practiced by you.
VERY IMP.:
1. Choosing a physiotherapist for this condition is very important. Not every physiotherapist can mobilize & re-align the joint. He should have done his specialization in Maitland's or Mulligan's concept along with his Bachelors or Masters degree in physiotherapy.
2. For pregnants, never ever the mobilization should be done in prone lying position. It has to be done in supine lying.
3. There is no medication to re-align the joint....it has to be done manually!
REMEMBER:
Not all the radiating pains into the legs are SCIATICA !
Many patients of mine complain of a pain in the lower back & when i ask them to show the region where the pain is..they show an area in their lower back which is just adjacent to the spine & is exactly at the starting of the buttock region. They complain of a radiating pain too...by spending 5 minutes with a patient (by physical examination & special tests - not the usual lab tests or any kind of radiology, but they are just manual tests), a doctor can definitely diagnose it properly.
This conditions which i am going to discuss now is called SACROILITIS..
SACROILITIS
There are 2 sacro-iliac joints present for everyone of us. If you can palpate your pelvis..exactly where we wear the belt...just 2" beside the spine...is present the sacroiliac joint (on either side). Whenever a person lifts some heavy weight semi-consciously or if a person sits for a long time with his wallet in his back pocket or drives a car for long distances with his wallet in his back pocket or does any abnormal activities like jumping from heights or so...there is every chance of getting this condition. This condition is very commonly seen in pregnants, especially in those who have weak back & weak abdominal muscles.
The pain is mainly local...at the injured site & usually radiates to the legs (behind the thighs, into the calves & sometimes into the feet too). Hence, it is misdiagnosed as Sciatica.
But if the doctor does some manual tests, he will notice that it is Sacroilitis. In this condition, the problem arises in the joint & not in the spine & there is no need to panic imagining about some kind of nerve compression or so.
But yes, the pain would be severe, will not allow the person to either stand or sit or lie down. In severe conditions, the patient can't even change his posture while he is in lying position.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE JOINT....
As it's been already explained...Sacroilitis may occur because the person has lifted heavy weight or has been sitting for a long time with his wallet in his back pocket or because of some abnormal movement, the sacroiliac joint which is less mobile (10-15 Hz), now moves abruptly & misses its alignment causing an internal swelling in the joint, which in turn leads to the radiating pain & spasm of all the related muscles of the lower back & pelvis.
Many patients ask me as how much weight can they lift?
There is no answer for this question because it depends upon their strength which, obviously, varies from person to person. A 10 kg. weight may be heavy for a lady to lift but might be easier for a worker.
The principle is :
Increase your strength & be active otherwise you will have to be compromised in your independence.
WHAT TO DO...FOR PAIN:
Rush to a Physiotherapist.
He will mobilize the sacro-iliac joint & re-align the joint properly.
He may want to stretch your gluteus maximus, hamstrings or piriformis muscles.
He may treat you with Laser therapy (works wonderfully) or Ultra-sound therapy or both in a combination.. let him decide.
Later, he will teach you a few back strengthening exercises which have to practiced by you.
VERY IMP.:
1. Choosing a physiotherapist for this condition is very important. Not every physiotherapist can mobilize & re-align the joint. He should have done his specialization in Maitland's or Mulligan's concept along with his Bachelors or Masters degree in physiotherapy.
2. For pregnants, never ever the mobilization should be done in prone lying position. It has to be done in supine lying.
3. There is no medication to re-align the joint....it has to be done manually!
REMEMBER:
Not all the radiating pains into the legs are SCIATICA !
