Treatment for SI Joint Dysfunction
Ice pack and rest
The area of inflammation should have ice packs administered for 15 to 20 minutes at a time to help with acute discomfort. Two weeks of intermittent use of ice packs can help the inflammation go down. Heat can then be applied to the area to calm it. However, in general, heat might make inflammation worse during the acute stages.
Exercise, therapy, and self-care
Yoga, massage, and physical therapy [7] can all assist to strengthen and stabilise the SI joints while reducing pain.
Cold packs are yet another method of pain relief. As an alternative, use a heating pad, heat wrap, or take a warm bath when the discomfort is more tolerable. Cold and heat can both relieve joint pain.
A sacroiliac belt can also be used to support the SI joint, which might assist your pain.
Medication
Your doctor may advise pharmaceutical and nonsurgical treatments if your SI joint discomfort cannot be controlled by physical therapy, exercise, and self-care, or if it is brought on by a persistent condition like AS. These may consist of:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [8], such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, are among the anti-inflammatory drugs.
- muscle relaxants
- TNF inhibitors are oral steroids that should only be taken temporarily to treat AS.
- radiofrequency ablation, which utilizes energy to inactivate the nerves causing your pain
- Injecting corticosteroids into the joint.
Stem cell regeneration
Stem cell regeneration is an experimental, non-invasive treatment for a damaged and uncomfortable Sacroiliac joint. Targeted stem cell therapies for the hip, knee, and SI joints have been shown to have positive outcomes for patients for many years. Stem cells are carefully administered throughout the procedure either parspinally or into the SI joint and surrounding ligaments. Typically, an orthopedic specialist will employ CT imaging advice. The cells begin to repair and rebuild the joint as a result of the inflammatory signals they receive from the inflamed joint. Shockwave therapy and other supporting therapies are able to help with this.
Surgery
Surgery is seen as a last option. Small plates and screws are used during sacroiliac joint fusion surgery to hold the SI joint’s bones together so they can fuse or grow together.
If the pain is severe and no amount of physical therapy, medicine, or minimally invasive procedures has relieved it, your doctor may advise this surgery.
Although the range of motion of the joint is slightly restricted, SI joint fusion is successful at reducing discomfort.