Sacroiliac joint and pelvic girdle pain can make it difficult to sit, stand, walk, climb stairs, sleep, or move comfortably throughout the day. Some patients experience a deep ache near one side of the lower back or buttock, while others develop pain that spreads into the hip, groin, thigh, or surrounding pelvic area.
Our pain management team helps identify the likely source of your symptoms and recommend treatment options based on your condition, medical history, and goals.
Click on the tiles below to jump to the common sacroiliac joint and pelvic girdle conditions we treat:
Mechanical sacroiliac joint pain and dysfunction can develop when the SI joint or surrounding structures become a source of pain during movement or weight transfer. Symptoms may be felt in the lower back, buttock, hip, groin, or upper thigh and may worsen with standing, walking, stairs, transitional movements, or prolonged positions.
Depending on the diagnosis and response to conservative treatment, options may include:
These procedures are intended for appropriately evaluated mechanical SI joint pain and dysfunction.
Sacroiliitis refers to inflammation involving the sacroiliac joint and should not automatically be treated as mechanical SI joint pain. Suspected inflammatory sacroiliitis may require medical or rheumatologic evaluation. Suspected infection requires urgent medical evaluation.
Radiofrequency denervation or SI joint fusion should not be presented as treatment for the underlying inflammatory or infectious disease.
Patients may experience:
Treatment options may include:
Image guidance can help place the treatment accurately near the suspected pain-generating structure. PRP and other orthobiologic options may be considered when a ligament or tendon component is suspected, and the patient is an appropriate candidate.
Treatment recommendations will depend on the affected structure, the duration of symptoms, prior care, imaging findings, and overall diagnosis.
Post-traumatic SI joint pain may develop after a fall, motor vehicle accident, sports injury, workplace incident, or another event that places force through the pelvis. Symptoms may also occur after repeated strain or a sudden twisting movement.
An injury can affect the SI joint itself or the surrounding ligaments and muscles that help stabilize the pelvis. Patients may experience localized pain near the lower back or buttocks, discomfort while bearing weight, or difficulty with walking and position changes.
Treatment options may include:
A diagnostic injection may help determine whether the SI joint is the primary source of pain. If the response supports an SI joint diagnosis, your provider can discuss whether additional targeted procedures may be appropriate.
Because pelvic and lower back injuries can involve more than one structure, the evaluation may also consider the lumbar spine, hips, muscles, and surrounding soft tissues.
Your evaluation may include a physical exam, a review of your symptoms and medical history, and a discussion of whether imaging, prior records, or additional diagnostic steps are needed to better understand your condition and recommend appropriate next steps.
We may ask about:
Your provider may also evaluate your walking pattern, range of motion, areas of tenderness, pelvic stability, and whether specific movements reproduce your symptoms.
From there, we can discuss which treatment options may be appropriate for your specific diagnosis and goals.
Not all lower back, buttock, or pelvic pain comes from the same source. SI joint inflammation, post-traumatic joint pain, or irritation involving a pelvic ligament or tendon may require different treatment strategies.
Our approach focuses on:
