Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

What is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?

The sacroiliac (SI) joints connect the base of the spine (the “sacrum”) to the ilium of the pelvis or hip bone. When there is abnormal motion or inflammation of these joints, severe pain can result. The condition is known as “Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction.” There are several different names for this condition, including SI Joint Syndrome, SI Joint Dysfunction and SI Joint Inflammation.

Symptoms of SI Joint Dysfunction

One of the most common signs of SI Joint Dysfunction is severe pain and inflammation within the buttocks or lower back region. For most patients, the pain will gradually become worse when they run or stand for long periods of time. In severe cases, it hurts just to lie down due to direct pressure on the joint.

Causes of SI Joint Dysfunction

SI Joint dysfunction can be brought on by various conditions, including traumatic injury to the joint, infection, or pregnancy. Sometimes this condition is acquired after spinal fusion. Other times patients develop this condition due to age related degenerative changes without prior history of injury.

Diagnosis of SI Joint Dysfunction

Diagnosing this condition will include a physical examination, which will enable the doctor to evaluate the patient’s medical history. The doctor will first ask questions, to determine if there are any underlying medical conditions which could be contributing to the patient’s pain, and differentiating pain coming from the SI Joints, lumbar spine, and hips. Doctors will also perform exams, such as x-rays and CT scans, which will help give them a detailed look at the patient’s joints and bones. A sacroiliac joint steroid injection will also help in diagnosing this condition.

Treatment and Surgery for SI Joint Dysfunction

For some patients, a sacroiliac joint steroid injection can be used to treat this condition. This procedure will involve the careful injection of steroids, along with a local anesthetic and saline solution, into the joint to reduce pain. However, when nonsurgical methods do not alleviate the patient’s condition, SI Joint Fusion Surgery may be a solution. SI Joint Fusion surgery is a minimally-invasive procedure, which should be considered when other, more conservative methods have failed. The procedure is performed through a small incision, taking about an hour to complete. Due to the procedure being performed through a small incision, patients should experience a quicker healing time and less irritation. Post-surgery, patients should have plenty of rest, limit weight bearing on the treated side and take pain medication as prescribed.

At Princeton Neurological Surgery Dr. John Lipani, a board-certified fellowship trained specialist in spinal surgery, treats sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction with minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Lipani is a specialist in the treatment for SI joint dysfunction and many other spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, low back pain, neck pain, spinal tumors, spinal cancer and more. Dr. Lipani treats patients from around the world, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey including locally from Princeton, New Brunswick, Hopewell, Pennington and communities throughout Somerset, Middlesex, Ocean, Burlington, Monmouth, Morris and Mercer Counties for SI joint dysfunction. Dr. Lipani offers image guided spine surgery approaches and the latest in minimally invasive spine procedures for sacroiliac joint dysfunction treatment, tailored to the needs of each patient. For more information about SI joint fusion in greater Princeton, New Jersey, or to learn about minimally invasive spine surgery, call or email us to schedule a consultation at our offices in Hamilton, Bridgewater, or Morristown, New Jersey!

Many patients needing spinal surgery don’t want to travel far from home to see a specialist in another state. With Dr. Lipani, you have sacroiliac joint dysfunction surgery options and never have to leave New Jersey. Dr. Lipani makes sure all his patients are well taken care of before and after neurosurgery, making them feel like part of the family.

If you would like more information about our services or to schedule an appointment, feel free to fill out our convenient contact form or call us directly at (609) 890-3400.

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