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:
The sacroiliac joints connect the lower spine to the pelvis. These joints help transfer weight between the upper body and legs while supporting movement and stability.
Sacroiliitis refers to inflammation involving one or both SI joints. SI joint pain may cause a deep ache in the lower back, buttocks, or pelvic area. Some patients experience symptoms that spread toward the hip, groin, or upper thigh.
Pain may worsen with:
Treatment options may include:
An SI joint injection may be used to help determine whether the joint is contributing to your symptoms while also providing targeted treatment. When diagnostic procedures provide meaningful temporary relief, radiofrequency ablation may be considered to reduce pain signals from the nerves supplying the SI joint.
SI joint fusion may be evaluated in selected cases when symptoms remain persistent despite conservative care and appropriate injection-based treatment.
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.
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.
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:
