What is sacroiliitis?

If you suffer from pain in your lower back, hips, buttocks, and legs, could sacroiliitis be the cause?

Sacroiliitis is inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, which can affect one or both joints. The sacroiliac joints are at the lower part of your spine where it connects to your pelvic area near your hips.

In general the symptoms of sacroiliitis include pain in the lower back, hips, buttocks, legs, knees, and less commonly, feet. Sometimes that pain is accompanied by a mild fever. You may also notice the pain worsening after long periods of standing or putting more weight on one leg than the other, climbing stairs, and taking long strides when running or walking.

There is no single reason why people suffer from sacroiliitis, and it can affect anyone. However, it’s quite common in pregnant women because the body is preparing for a baby, and the hip and sacroiliac joints naturally loosen. Pregnancy can alter the way you walk and cause inflammation, which leads to the condition.

Aside from pregnancy, it can also be caused from gout, joint damage from a fall or accident, or an inflamed sacroiliac joint. Existing back and spine issues, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (an inflammatory form of arthritis), can also cause sacroiliitis.

Sacroiliitis shares traits with many other lower back pain issues, so it’s advisable to consult your health professional for a correct diagnosis. Once you receive a definite diagnosis for the condition, your treatment type can be determined.

Your health professional may also recommend measures to manage your symptoms such as correcting your posture, stretching to maintain joint flexibility, and strengthening exercises to make your muscles more stable.