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Sacroiliac pain

(23 Posts)
Teetime Fri 26-Jun-15 09:02:23

Eventually decided to see an osteopath yesterday with what I thought was my long standing nurses back problem and she diagnosed a new problem with the sacroiliac joint and indeed is quite possibly the cause of me shooting golf balls round corners!. The problem is the pain seems intractable - has anyone any experience of this and any tips for gaining relief please?

aggie Fri 26-Jun-15 09:18:25

What did the osteopath suggest ? If you consulted them why do you want other answers ?Personally I would not go near an Osteopath

annodomini Fri 26-Jun-15 10:09:35

An ostoepath got my backache wrong. He treated me for a disc problem until I realised that he wasn't doing me any good. A physiotherapist correctly diagnosed an inflamed sacro-iliac joint and treated it with ultrasound and an electric gizmo. It worked well, but, mysteriously, after a friend, who said she was a healer, laid her hands on my back, I never had another twinge of pain. I had always been a sceptic - now, I'm just not sure.

Teetime Fri 26-Jun-15 10:16:25

Thanks aggie it helps to talk ! shock

anno I had the opposite a physio missed my slipped disc 10 years ago and the osteopath found it. I guess you have to find the right practitioner for you. It also helps to hear how other people have managed their condition.

annsixty Fri 26-Jun-15 10:36:31

A cousin of mine, a real sceptic, like you anno had his back "sorted " in the street by an aquaintance who asked why he was walking oddly. When he explained the man just put his hands on cousins back and he felt warmth spreading and the pain went. Is this just the power of suggestion or....

loopylou Fri 26-Jun-15 10:46:44

Sacroiliac pain is miserable. I find mine is helped by lying on my back, putting my hands behind the knee and pulling the affected leg up to my chest. Also try standing with your back to the wall, put a tennis ball between you and the wall, over the 'sore spot'- I get an actual bulge over mine. Press hard against the ball and roll it up and down over the sore area. Apparently it helps to relieve the muscle spasms.
Other than paracetamol and ibuprofen 400mg taken regularly I generally have to hope it settles quickly. I do sympathise Teetime, and I presume playing golf doesn't help!

annodomini Fri 26-Jun-15 11:20:23

Oddly enough, I have found pelvic thrusts - not too vigorous; you are not Elvis - to be effective in releasing a muscle spasm.

whenim64 Fri 26-Jun-15 11:23:48

I just conjured up that image, anno and rapidly banished it from my mind. I just never saw you as a pelvic thruster! grin

TriciaF Fri 26-Jun-15 11:28:22

It sounds as if you need to see the doctor and have an xray before deciding on a diagnosis.
From what you say it's similar to what my husband had. Dr. referred him to a rheumatologist who xrayed then injected with ?cortisone in the damaged part of his spine. Instant relief!

Teetime Fri 26-Jun-15 11:48:49

Thank you all yes I regularly see a rheumatologist who doesn't offer any further help than the array of anti inflammatories and analgesia that I already take and x rays only look at bone not the soft tissue injury that surrounds it and that is usually where the inflammation which causes the pain comes from. I shall try the exercises though and some ice packs. Oh to meet a magic healer! smile

harrigran Fri 26-Jun-15 11:59:22

DS has chronic pelvic pain and is having trigger point physiotherapy, eases with treatment but it is probably caused by working at a computer and sitting for long periods. We were wondering about the benefits of a standing desk.
I would always get a doctor's thoughts on a condition before taking up any kind of treatment.

onmyown Fri 26-Jun-15 17:57:06

I had this a few years ago. (I had been driving long-distance for several days and sitting at an angle in the driving seat.) Well, I thought it was agonising kidney or bowel inflammation or something equally serious. Went to GP - diagnosed as sacroiliac joint pain - told it was a regular sporting injury. Prescribed with anti-inflammatories. They worked a treat.

This may not be the answer for others. But I hope you find relief.

vampirequeen Fri 26-Jun-15 18:06:42

DH has back pain and does exercises that were given to him by a physiotherapist. It might be worth going back to your GP.

Have you been to a pain clinic?

GrandmaKT Fri 26-Jun-15 21:19:14

I had chronic sacroiliac pain for nearly 2 years. I was on strong pain killers every day. I tried all sorts of things, massage, osteopath, rest, exercise. At one stage I was told that it would only improve when I got older and the joint fused which would mean less movement but less pain (I wasn't even 40 at the time!) What finally worked was a cortisone injection into the joint. My specialist told me beforehand that sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it's a temporary solution. Fortunately for me it cured it completely. The pain was so much better immediately and improved over the next few weeks. I was given a second follow-up injection (though I don't really think I needed it) and - touch wood - 16 years later I'm still pain free! having said that I do try to go to the gym and exercise regularly to keep it strong (there's nothing like a brush with injury to make you appreciate your health). Keep looking for a solution Teetime, I feel for you. xx

annodomini Fri 26-Jun-15 21:29:07

when, next time we have a meet-up, I will demonstrate the rather modest pelvic thrusts that alleviate back pain. I think the book that recommended those went home with my BiL.

Nansypansy Wed 01-Jul-15 05:40:21

Many years ago, I had this type of pain - I always described it as like a severe persistent toothache in my bum. It was so severe, it was sudden - and I was pregnant - I was hospitalised. It turned out to be osteomyelitis of the right ilium. The bone was scraped; I was put on very strong antibiotics and eventually it healed, though I did lose that baby at 22 weeks.

TwiceAsNice Wed 01-Jul-15 06:33:00

I would go back to your GP and ask for an MRI scan. I put up with pain for some years and the X-Ray showed nothing, GP presumed I had sciatica and apart from painkillers when it really flared up suggested nothing else. Orthopaedic specialist diagnosed spinal stenosis and the scan also diagnosed a badly pinched disc on the one side. I am managing the pain at the moment and will have injections when I feel I need them as specialist says there's no guarantee they will bring permanent relief and you can only have them for so long. Acupuncture also gives good relief given to me by someone who is also a trained physiotherapist. However you have to pay an acupuncturist privately it is not available on the NHS. Mine cost me £30 a session an only needed 2or3 at a time and the relief last for a while. Specialist has warned me I may need an operation at some point but I would not have this unless I couldn't manage at all as I am terrified of having an anaesthetic

Nelliemoser Wed 01-Jul-15 07:00:48

Try Accupuncture it worked well for me with coccyx pain. Among other treatments she "burnt" smoldered some moxa herbs over the site.
No, it didnt burn me. After suffering for several weeks it stareted feeling better right away. I don't care how it worked it was good being able to get in and out of my bed and car etc without lots of pain.

(The only reason I am up this early this morning is because my back is very stiff and aching I thought I had better get out of bed while I could.) It does this every so often.
A gentle walk is needed to unscramble that. I don't have an accupuncturist to hand.

Teetime Wed 01-Jul-15 09:06:01

I did have some acupuncture a few years ago and the osteopath attached them to a TENS machine and that worked like a charm but with a different back problem to the one I have now. I am a few days past the first treatment with my new osteopath and I shall have several and see how that goes. If its not better then its the rheumatologist for me. my problem SLE (Lupus) is a condition which affects soft tissue making the ligaments and connective tissue inflamed so it complicates everything and its poorly understood so its all symptom control. At the moment its burning like b***ry and very stiff. Still managing a bit of golf to keep it mobile and haven't been advised by anyone medical not to do it. Its a sideways swinging motion which seems to help as does walking but I cant do forward movements like gardening or bowls (thankfully) or indeed ironing!smile

Brendawymms Wed 01-Jul-15 11:35:24

I did post earlier but it seems to have disappeared into the ether somewhere
I have had sacroiliac pain since I was 16 and further damaged all the attached muscles 25 years ago. I have not had a pain free day. I have had many tests, injection, acupuncture and oestopathy with some success. It was not until 7 years ago when I was put on a medication for ankolosingspondalits ( not sure of spelling) that things started to get better. As it was the maximum dose this was reduced a year ago. The pain gradually increased along with the stiffness until a month ago I got put back on the maximum dose and within a week a lot better. Now having treatment for all the other muscles that were under strain whilst back bad...you can't win.

Galen Wed 01-Jul-15 12:14:44

I had steroid injections into it which helped. Then I had my third hip replacement and never had it since. I'd always sworn the second hip replacement had left my leg slightly shorter. The new one is the same length as the other and that seems to have cured it.

Teetime Wed 01-Jul-15 14:30:44

ouch Brenda and Galen my goodness what a lot to put up with- juts shows there is always someone worse off isn't there? I hope you are having a reasonable day today and at least enjoying some sunshine but not being too hot and uncomfortable.

Ashman Thu 28-Nov-19 13:49:14

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