Low Back Pain
“My Back Went Out!” Sound familiar?
Click or tap here for a quick look at sacroiliac joint pain versus lower back disc pain.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Acute sacroiliac joint dysfunction can start suddenly, causing constant, excruciating low back pain, and sometimes pain in one or both legs, groin, and/or hips. Typically, the duration is less than one month.
If not corrected, acute sacroiliac joint dysfunction can turn into chronic sacroiliac dysfunction (see below), lasting anywhere from three months to literally years, causing longstanding low back pain along with a myriad of other problems, such as leg pain, hip pain, knee pain, and even neck and jaw pain.
Rest your hands right on top of your hip bones with your thumbs pointed toward your spine. Keeping your thumbs pointing toward one another with the thumb-finger web still resting on your hip bones, drop your thumbs a couple of inches down your back. That area below your waist is your sacrum—a triangular bone that connects on both sides to the back of your hip bones.
Lower Back Disc Problem
By contrast, there’s a bad lumbar disc, causing constant, excruciating lower back pain and/or buttock and leg pain that you can’t seem to get away from. Check out the comparison chart below. If you suspect a disc problem, see your medical doctor or orthopedic back specialist immediately. If unsure, call Doc Martin. She’ll help you figure out what to do.
Common Signs for Chronic and Acute Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction(where hips join to lower back):
Common Signs for Acute, Severe Lumbar Disc Herniation:
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- Chronic aching or pain, on and off, in lower back that can get worse or can ease depending upon activities, positions, and time of day.
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- Constant, excruciating lower back pain and/or pain down the back of thigh and/or calf that doesn’t let up after two weeks or more even when lying down for hours at a time.
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- Typically, ache or pain that is worse at the end of the day, better in the morning after sleeping or lying down.
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- Typically, severe lower back pain that is the same or worse in the morning after sleeping or trying to sleep.
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- Acute, moderate to incapacitating lower back pain that can ease when lying down and worsen when sitting, standing, walking, bending, twisting, lifting, turning in bed, and/or zap you with any little movement.
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- Severe, incapacitating lower back that is present ALL the time. No positions relieve the pain for long.
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- Mild to excruciating lower back pain that can radiate into hips, groin, up spine, and/or down one or both legs (front, side, inside, and/or back of thighs and/or calves).
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- Moderate to severe lower back pain that radiates down the back of one leg. Note: pain down back of both legs or pain in sides and/or front of legs is almost always caused by the sacroiliac joint dysfunction (left column) NOT a bad disc.
Common Signs for Chronic and Acute Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
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- Chronic aching or pain, on and off, in lower back that can get worse or can ease depending upon activities, positions, and time of day.
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- Typically, ache or pain that is worse at the end of the day, better in the morning after sleeping or lying down.
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- Acute, moderate to incapacitating
lower back pain that can ease when lying down and can worsen when sitting, standing, walking, bending, twisting, lifting, or turning in bed.
- Acute, moderate to incapacitating
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- Mild to severe pain that can radiate into hips, groin, up the spine, and down one or both legs, particularly the front, side, and/or inside of the thigh(s), not directly down the back of one leg.
Common Signs for Acute, Severe Disc Problems
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- Constant, excruciating low back pain that has not noticeably improved in one to two weeks, even when taking it easy or lying down most of the time.
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- Typically, pain that is the same or worse in the morning after trying to sleep, not better.
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- Severe back pain is present ALL the time. Typically, no positions significantly relieve the pain, including lying down. For short periods, pain can ease a little when walking or sitting, but the pain comes back
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- Moderate to severe pain that can radiate into hips, groin, and down the back (typically) of one leg, not both legs, or can cause pain in one part of the back the leg, such as in the back of the calf.
ACTIONS for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (moderate to severe pain):
ACTIONS for Lower Back Disc Herniation (acute, severe pain):
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Do's
- Lie down as much as possible—almost 100% of the time. A sacroiliac joint dysfunction is kind of like a sprained ankle. When you sprain your ankle, you get off it, avoiding all weight-bearing positions. Same with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Get off it.
- Lie on your back or side. If more comfortable, use pillow under or between your knees.
- Use ice for the first couple of days after onset of pain. On 20 minutes, off 40 minutes.
- Do call or text me, Dr. Martin, and let’s talk (864-314-5935) or let’s meet for a free consultation.
If you’ve got pain from a sacroiliac joint problem, it’s very likely I can help you, often after just one painless spinal adjustment.
Don'ts
- DON’T SIT. Sitting aggravates the sacroiliac joint. No chair. No recliner. No car.
- Don’t stand or walk except for necessities.
- Don’t bend, lift, or twist from your waist.
- DON’T EXERCISE! This isn’t the time to start that exercise program.
- Don’t do household chores.
- Don’t work.
- Don’t use heat the first 2 to 3 days.
ACTIONS for Lower Back Disc Problem (acute, severe pain)
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Do's
IMMEDIATELY CALL YOUR MEDICAL DOCTOR OR ORTHOPEDIC BACK SPECIALIST.
Don’t Delay.
If you think your back pain, whether mild or incapacitating, is caused by your sacroiliac joint, Doc Martin’s GOT YOUR BACK!
Make that call for help and hope.