Sacroiliitis is an inflammation in the joint of the sacrum with the hip that causes pain and discomfort at the end of the spine. Its treatment is basically done with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants and physiotherapy sessions.
Despite the treatment, it is common to have several recurrences of the disease during life because in addition to a genetic pre-disposition for this, there is often a gap in the hip joint, which is usually aggravated by the difference in leg length, when one is a few centimeters longer the other. This change leads to compensation in the entire body structure, including the spinal joints, leading to the persistence of sacroiliitis.
Sacroiliitis symptoms
Symptoms of sacroiliitis include:
- Pain in the joints of the sacrum with the spine. The pain is deep and located in the upper part of the butt, and can radiate to the thigh; Sometimes there is pain in the lower back or hip; The pain is frequent, and is present even during sleep; The pain can get worse after rest prolonged, being more intense when waking up; Pain or discomfort in the knees; Contractures in the bottom of the back and close to the sacroiliac joint; There may be fever when it is caused by some infection.
The diagnosis is made by the doctor after observing the clinical signs when pressing the iliac crest, and on imaging tests, such as x-rays and scintigraphy, for example.
Treatment for Sacroiliitis
When identifying the symptoms of sacroiliitis, the doctor should indicate that the patient should undergo physical therapy to reduce pain and discomfort. Strengthening and stretching exercises will be able to improve posture and decrease the symptoms of the disease. Check out 5 exercises indicated for sacroiliitis here.
Taking anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics and physical therapy sessions are ways to find relief from symptoms and reduce the crisis.
Postural reeducation and osteopathy are also some forms of treatment that help to reduce compensations and pain, bringing relief from symptoms and therefore are also indicated.
If there is a difference in leg size greater than 1 centimeter, it is recommended to continuously use an insole inside the shoe to adjust the height of the limb and reduce overload on the joint.
When the cause of sacroiliitis is the presence of microorganisms, treatment is done with the use of antibiotics, during hospitalization.
What causes sacroiliitis
Some causes of sacroiliitis are:
- Have one leg larger than the other, even if the difference is only 0.5 cm; Spine unevenness such as arthrosis, hyperescoliosis, hyperkyphosis, hyperlordosis or parrot beaks; poorly positioned temporomandibular joint (TMJ); malignant or benign tumor that compresses the sacroiliac joint; direct trauma, such as a blow, for example; repetitive trauma, as in the case of high-level jumping athletes, for example; indirect trauma, such as in an automobile accident, for example; calcification of the sacroiliac; dislocation of the hip joint; diseases such as sarcoidosis, Paget's disease, osteomalacia, acromegaly, tuberculosis; infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus , other bacteria are described less frequently, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus, Salmonela, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and N. gonorrhoeae.
Individuals diagnosed with this disease should be aware that they are more likely to develop ankylosing spondylitis, which is a serious degenerative disease, in the future.
