Back Pain
“My Back Went Out!” Sound familiar?
Click or tap here for a quick look at sacroiliac joint dysfunction versus lower back disc pain.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
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
Common Signs for Acute, Severe 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 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, 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, the pain is the same or worse, not better, in the morning after trying to sleep.
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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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- 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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- 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.
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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 cause pain in one part of the back of the leg, such as in the back of the calf.
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. 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 us and come in for a consultation. Likely, you have a problem that we can help.
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.