One of the craziest things about the SI joint is that even though it’s only meant to move a few millimeters, when those few millimeters of motion become restricted, it can really wreak havoc on the rest of your body.
Although this joint isn’t meant to move a ton compared to other joints in the body (think of the hip socket, the shoulder, or the knee!) it still plays an important role in our movement chain. It’s not something you would ever notice or think about… until it stops moving.
When there is an imbalance in the pelvis, and the two hip bones (ilia) are rotated forward or backward in relation to the base of the spine (the sacrum), it can throw off a lot of important factors in our posture, as well as alter our gate.
Upper Body
When our pelvis is off-kilter, the rest of our back can end up having to compensate for it. Ultimately, our brain and our nervous system want our eyes to be level with the ground– it’s an important part of our balance system, and how we orient ourselves towards the world.
There is a reflex called the “righting reflex,” where our nervous system automatically tries to make our eyes level. This means we can end up subtly bending at other areas of our back and neck so that our balance system is happy.
Of course, now our spine is out of its normal positioning in other areas as well, which in turn can cause neck and back pain. Our muscles end up having to work harder than they’re supposed to, so they can go into a protective spasm.
These muscle spasms, in turn, can trigger all sorts of other symptoms, such as headache and TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder.
The TMJ thing might sound far-fetched, but I know because I’ve actually felt it happen to me. On some of the days when my SI joints were the most off-kilter, I would wake up with a weird stiffness or pain, usually just on one side of my jaw.
And the funny thing would be that, often on those days, my chiropractor would actually ask me if I was having jaw pain. It can have a lot to do with positioning and stiffness of the neck muscles, which ultimately affect the muscles that control the jaw.
Mid-Back
One of the most painful things I’d find, sometimes, is that when my SI joints were rotated out of place, I would have a lot of pain in my mid-back, around my shoulder blades. I would go to do exercises to strengthen those mid-back muscles, which wouldn’t hurt on a different day, and barely able to do 3 repetitions when my SI joints were really off.
Lower-Back
When the SI joints are out of alignment, the muscles in the area can tighten up, pulling on the lumbar vertebrae (in other words, the vertebrae in the lower spine). This can create a lot of pain and dysfunction in its own right (for more, you can check out this post).
Lower Body
When our hip bones, or ilia, are rotated forward or backward out of their normal position, this can affect the angle at which our legs hit the ground.
This can cause what is known as a functional short leg syndrome. The word functional means that we don’t actually have one leg that’s shorter than the other, but instead, as a result of the way our bodies are functioning at a given moment in time, it’s as if we do.
I will elaborate more on how functional short leg syndrome happens in its own post, however in this post that’s more about symptoms, let’s go on:
When you have a functional short leg, it can create all sorts of other symptoms.
One of the biggest symptoms I have experienced is foot pain. This is because, when motion is restricted all the way up in the pelvis, it still affects the range of motion of your legs.
When my SI joints were really stuck (which thankfully hasn’t happened in years) it would feel as though someone had tied some sort of a belt around my legs. I couldn’t put one foot very far in front of the other.
As a result, I didn’t have much control over which part of my foot hit the ground first when I walked. My feet would just kind of slam down awkwardly, and sometimes I’d land really hard on my forefoot, instead of landing on my heel.
I also experienced knee pain at times.
Our bodies were designed to move in a certain way, in what’s known as a kinetic chain, or movement chain. Each part depends on another.
When you alter part of that chain (especially if you are significantly altering which part of your foot is hitting the ground when you walk) it can send all kinds of abnormal forces traveling up your leg.
This is why people with SIJ dysfunction can experience foot pain, knee pain, or even pain at the hip socket (which, thankfully, hasn’t happened to me).
Okay…. so this was an overview of how SI joint dysfunction can affect the rest of your body, from head to toe!
I don’t know about you, but I personally always found it validating to find out a logical explanation for the “mysterious” symptoms I was having.
That is why I’m putting these long posts out there explaining all the things that can go “wrong!”
Knowledge is power, so the more you begin to understand about all this, the sooner you can start to fix it!
Has SI joint dysfunction caused pain and other symptoms in other parts of your body?
Feel free to chime in below!
My Sacroiliac Joint Saga 
This is very helpful! I have such a long way to go. It’s been a year for me suffering with this and I am beyond frustrated with medical professionals. PT didn’t help. I just came to the conclusion that the chriopractor is making the Si joint worse. The SI joint injection was a big fail. Doctors don’t want to give you pain meds. So I’m stuck on my own. I did commit to losing 20 pounds which helped a little. I’m extremely disappointed it didn’t help as much as I thought it would. Back to the drawing board of getting more opinions. I will comment I came across a website on sacral belts. WHY hasn’t anyone talked about this before??
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Hi Tammie, thanks for your comment! I’m sorry to hear about what you’re going through. And yes, I totally know what you mean about the lack of information. It took me *years* to learn everything I talk about on my blog. It’s pretty crazy how under-recognized this problem is.
I agree, it sounds like you should look for additional opinions. The physical therapist who finally helped me with this was actually the fifth physical therapist I saw. You never know when things can finally fall into place… sometimes it just takes the one right person.
Best of luck on your search!
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I have had si joint pain for years my knees now are feeling like I’m walking on bone and they just feel uncomfortable, and now my right foot under my heel is sooo painfull,its like I’m a thing making myself get around,exercise dosent help..Was going to have sujery cancelled out 2month before help required .
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Hi Natalene, so sorry to hear about all this. If your pelvis is out of alignment, it can definitely change the way you walk, and affect some of the other joints lower down in the leg. I am now offering coaching calls for readers of my blog, if you ever wanted to check in about your situation: https://sijointsaga.com/2020/02/25/i-am-now-offering-coaching-calls/
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This describes me, feet to jaw, with dizziness from my neck just to add to the overall sense of imbalance 😦 I wish I’d understood what was happening after I fell 24 years ago instead of doing the rounds of people who didn’t see the larger picture until recently. I must get back to the muscle energy technique because it’s the only thing which really seemed to work. Thank you for your posts and blogs, they’re always hopeful!
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Hi Annie, thanks so much for your kind comment! It means so much to me to know my writing is resonating with people. 🙂
As someone who’s struggled to find information in the past five years, I can only imagine how difficult it must have been 24 years ago. I’m glad you are finding things that work for you– the muscle energy technique has definitely been life-saving for me!
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Hi, can si joint dysfunction cause your toes to spasm?? My jaw feels like it moves at times. I feel nerves moving in my teeth. My baby toe wants to separate from the others..it hurts so bad. Doctors are saying it’s all in my head. Yet, I go to therapy twice a week to unlock my si joints!! Any advice is appreciated. .
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Hi Tammy,
SI joint dysfunction can most certainly cause pain in other parts of your body (as you’ve just heard me say in this post!). It can throw your alignment off in a pretty major way, so the rest of your body has to compensate. I’ve had pain in all different parts of my body, when my SI joints were rotated out of place. Foot pain, knee pain, and yes, TMJ (jaw pain).
However, it sounds to me as though there may be an additional component to what you’re experiencing. Especially when you talk about feeling nerves move in your teeth (there aren’t any nerves there that can move).
It’s not that it’s in your head– I believe you. However, sometimes when the body goes through something really traumatic and stressful (such as SI joint dysfunction) the part of the nervous system that senses pain can become a little overactive. It’s as though it’s trying really hard to protect you, so it “turns up the volume” on pain signals, and can cause you to feel pain in places that don’t have an injury. So when you experience symptoms that doctors can’t find a cause for (such as the tooth pain)… it isn’t just in your head. Your nervous system really is sending your brain the message that that part of your body hurts.
This can all be really hard to sort out, but if you are able to find a good physical therapist who understands how this type of chronic pain works (it’s called central sensitization) they should be able to help you navigate a way through your symptoms. Exercising the parts of your body that don’t hurt is a really great way to start.
I have a lot of experience with this type of pain myself– I actually developed it as a result of a previous injury, long before I developed SI joint dysfunction. That’s actually what my other blog, Sunlight in Winter, is about. There are a few posts over there you may want to check out:
https://sunlightinwinter.com/2012/12/13/chronic-pain-nervous-system/
https://sunlightinwinter.com/2016/01/26/what-is-central-sensitization/
https://sunlightinwinter.com/2013/02/08/understanding-pain-as-an-overprotective-friend/
Hope this helps!
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Hello: I am a ballet and dancer wellness teacher. I recently had a very significant SI joint “incident” and I am totally frustrated. I was FINE. I dance myself 5 days a week (90 minute ballet classes) as well as do a lot of cross training. I have had two rounds of hip replacements. The first set was done in 2005 and the implants were defective and placed incorrectly. The second set (2011) were placed correctly and I have no movement restrictions. I was teaching a private lesson when quite suddenly I felt a shift in my low back (painless) and then my left leg felt terrible. That was a month ago. I still cannot dance, can hardly teach and am in pain 24/7. I was evaluated by my primary physician’s PA and she told me most likely this happened due to my inactivity and general weakness, along with most likely poor posture. That most definitely is not me.
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Hi Ruth, I’m so sorry to hear that. It definitely doesn’t sound as though the PA’s diagnosis is taking your entire situation into account. It could be that she’s evaluating you based on how you appear now, after a month of inactivity, versus how you were at the time of your injury.
However, I’d also be pretty surprised if a PA working in primary care (or even a primary care physician herself) who was well-versed in SI joint dysfunction. My own PCP doesn’t know anything about it… it isn’t necessarily something that would be included in their training.
But I would urge you to keep going, and not give up hope! There is a type of specialist you could see called a physiatrist, and their training is more likely to include SI joint dysfunction. (Although still, not all of them will be familiar with it). Here’s a post I wrote on this specialty: https://sijointsaga.com/2017/09/29/sacroiliac-joint-doctor/
I also think that finding the right physical therapist could make a world of difference for you as well. While physicians are (usually) great at diagnosing and providing medications and/or injections for pain relief, your best bet long term will likely be to have someone gently realign the joint and help you build up muscle strength in the area. (I know muscle weakness was certainly not part of your original problem, but if you’ve injured the joint/strained the ligaments, strengthening will be an important part of your recovery).
I hope this helps! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions!
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Hi Christy!!! I’m Christy also! Lol. Your post has confirmed a lot of what I could feel happening to me right now. I have been in several accidents in my 40 years & have scoliosis & after an accident in 2010 when 2 years of pain killers didn’t work I stopped them cold turkey and felt with my Fibromyalgia diagnosis as best I could without the meds. The fibro was diagnosed when my specific “Spine Pain Management” doctor couldnt understand how I was STILL in pain a year after the accident. For the record I went to the Orthopedic Spine Care of Long Island. Long story short I am now doubting the fibro diagnosis as I have found articles of present day doctors comparing accident injuries back in the early days of automobiles to present. I became A-Symptomatic with my back injuries initial April of 2017…..since then I have had 1 discetomy on my L3/4 and currently awaiting injections for SI inflammation………that foot thing, I can relate. At times I feel like my foot disappeared from the ankle down and I’m peg legged…..but o happens when the front of my foot is supposed to support my weight walking and step step step to prevent from falling. This past week it happened 2 BOTH legs walking down the stairs and ended up catching myself but now my arm hurts. I have been “Swollen” in the Dimples of Venus since the day of my last accident. Now that my back pain is gone this SI Inflammation is horrible and so much more life hindering that I could of ever imagined. Thanks for sharing, always comforting to know someone else has or is feeling the same!!! 💗
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Hi there Christy 🙂 So sorry to hear all this has happened… but I’m so glad my blog has been helpful! Yes, that peg-legged feeling definitely sounds like it could be coming from the SI joint. I really hope the injections help! Wishing you the best of luck as you continue on your journey!
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i was wondering if the nerves in the lower abdomen could be affected?
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Hi Georgena, this would be something that only a doctor could evaluate on a case-by-case basis. However, in my personal experience, as well as all of the research I’ve done for this blog, that would not be typical of SI joint dysfunction. Generally, when nerves are affected, we think about the spine itself, where the nerves exit the spinal cord. There aren’t any major nerves that run through the SI joints, in the way you might be picturing.
However, if you have concerns, I strongly urge you to follow up with a doctor! A neurologist can evaluate your nerve function, and there is a type of specialist called a physiatrist, who specializes in musculoskeletal pain. They can also help evaluate exactly what’s going on in your SI joints. Hope this helps!
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First of all thank you for publishing this information as I find it very helpful. I have ankylosing spondylitis and foresters disease otherwise known as DISH. I am currently having a bout of sciatic pain down both legs. I’ve had X-rays and they were pretty normal for my age as far as my spine is concerned. I have been cleared for physical therapy. What I have been reading is that an unrecognized cause of sciatic pain is actually SI joint dysfunction. I have no weakness or loss of control only the pain in my buttocks in the back of both legs and into my calves and it is slowly getting better over time by just resting. The cause of the pain seems to have been an exercise stress test in which I had to run on the treadmill after having been sedentary for a few months due to illness. I am usually very active. Also the pain seem to start in my thighs for a few days and then that stopped and the sciatic type pain started. The last time I had major pain like this a physiatrist who is now retired figured out that it was my SI joints. It’s a little different this time because of the pain in the back of my legs but without that pain it is the same as before. I’m wondering if you are able to give a description as to how sciatic pain can be generated by SI joint dysfunction.
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Hi Richard, I’m so glad my site has been helpful. Also glad you were able to get a confirmed diagnosis of AS — is this is incredibly important to know.
Generally, when sciatica comes from the SI joints, it’s due to surrounding inflammation in the area. That’s because, unlike when the issue is coming from the spine, the sciatic nerve doesn’t actually run through the SI joints. So it isn’t being physically compressed the way it can be by a bulging disc.
Here’s an article that explains more: https://sijointsaga.com/2020/02/13/can-the-si-joint-cause-sciatica/
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Thank you very much for the link to that study it’s very helpful. I was able to locate the actual study online and I bookmarked it and I’m going to print it out to bring to physical therapy and I’m also going to send it to my primary care doctor and my rheumatologist. I send them lots of articles on different things and they are always very receptive and appreciative. I am lucky to have providers that are very aware that they don’t know everything. A very important characteristic to have in a provider when you have a very complex health history. Thank you so much.
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Happy to help!
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Georgena you’ve asked the question I was about to ask! I started getting tight low abdominal muscles earlier this year, as if I was holding my stomach in tightly, along with a sort of sensitive feeling around my low back (unlike the usual pain). It’s even worse at the moment. I’ve been hoping it was my SI joint causing this – I’ve had SI problems for years since a fall and they range from upper thigh pains to neck dizziness and tmj – so I wonder if you found out what had caused your low abdominal nerve problems and I hope you’ve found a way to get rid of them in the meantime!
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Georgena, I have a lot of intestinal problems and when my sacrum gets totally out of whack I will have lower abdominal pain and won’t be able to poop properly. My chiro says this is absolutely a part of it. After I get adjusted, sometimes having to do that two or three times in a row, then my abdominal pain goes a way and I get back on a regular schedule. Hope this helps!
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So very glad I’ve found this blog. I’ve been experiencing SI joint pain since I had a total knee replacement in Feb. Like has already been said, getting up from laying or sitting position is extremely painful. Lower back pain & pain going down the leg is also there. I’m waiting to have the 2nd knee done and hoping that will “balance” me out and make it go away. I’m currently seeing an Osteopath and Physical Therapist which helps for a few days after each appointment, but no long term relief has been found – yet. I’m being optimistic that I will get there
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Hi Sheila, I think it’s actually a great sign that you’ve already been able to find treatments that give you relief! If you feel short term pain relief, that’s a good indication that the osteopath and PT are at least identifying your problem correctly (some people try these treatments and receive no relief at all!).
I think you are right that, if you’ve been recovering from one surgery, while still dealing with another knee that needs to be replaced, it makes sense that your lower back and SI joints would be affected. Not only will your gait be affected, but you will (unfortunately) have lost muscle strength overall as you’ve been recovering. Even if you don’t notice a loss in strength yourself, I know from personal experience that the loss of strength from another injuuy can affect the SIJ’s. (I actually developed SIJ dysfunction while recovering from a knee injury myself).
However, I share your optimism that you will get better! It will be really important to build your strength back up overall, and particularly in the muscles of your lower back and core. Once you’re able to walk normally without pain in your knees, this will be a huge relief for your SI joints.
As you may know from my blog, I’m a huge fan of aquatic physical therapy, which you may find is a great option for you. Hopefully once both knees are healed, you’ll find you’re much better able to exercise and get moving again!
Wishing you the best of luck as you heal!
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I am rather a complex case as in the last two years I have had a Sacroilliac fusion and a hip replacement on the right side. I am only five weeks since my hip surgery and keep improving daily but I am finding my leg shakes when I walk down hill. It feels like it doesn’t have the strength to hold me up. I really don’t understand this and I am not sure if it is a hip symptom or a Sacroilliac joint instability symptom. It’s really only going down hill , up hill is ok.
I am worried!!?
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Hi Jane, you should definitely follow up with your surgeon about this! He or she will most likely want to evaluate you to make sure everything is in order.
However, I do want to reassure you that five weeks is not a long time. Your body does need to acclimate to the fact that you’ve had surgery and that your hip works differently now. It’s completely possible– and, I think, likely– that your doctor will say nothing is wrong. It will take a while for you to adjust and build up the muscle strength to do the things you need to do.
Your nervous system may also, at times, give you the sensation of muscle weakness in order to protect the joint. It doesn’t have to mean that something is “wrong.” It’s just that your nervous system knows you’ve gone through a big change, and it’s trying to make sure you take things slowly.
So again– I never want anyone to take the things I say in place of medical advice. Please do follow up with your doctor. But I hope this helps to give you some peace of mind in the meantime 🙂
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My mind is blown!! I had the TMJ feeling as well and thought I was having a spasm. I was walking outside slowly and it felt like my right jaw down into my neck were stiff. The body is amazing. I just am so amazed that I am not the only one who as been experiencing this on top of a lot of the other things you have listed.
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I know, it’s crazy how everything is connected! These things still surprise me too!
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Did your spasms or cramps go away? I experience cramping all over my body which makes it hard for me to do my exercise. Most recently I strained my hamstring but it’s hard to heal because I am always so tense and cramped. My hands get crampy at night along with my feet. You would think I would have fibromyalgia but this all started after my si started acting up.
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Hi Erin, yes, there are a few things I had to figure out about my own body– hopefully you can also figure out a few things that can help you. While I was struggling with SI joint dysfunction, I learned to manage muscle spasms and tightness with a thorough stretching routine, and also massage once in a while (but only with a massage therapist who knew not to aggravate my SI issues!). https://sijointsaga.com/2017/10/16/massage-sacroiliac-joint/
I also found that when I did my pool exercise, releasing my body’s own endorphins helped a lot as well.
However, most of my related symptoms ended up resolving almost immediately, once my pelvis stabilized. It was like once I took away the main factor that was behind all my symptoms, everything else was able to go back to normal.
Hope this helps!
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I have a hypermobile SI joint on the left side after a roller skating fall last Jan. It took months for me to figure out what was going on and I guess I can thank god im a nurse because it sounds like many have gone years without knowing.
My symptoms can involve what feels like L5 S1 but usually starts with a little movement in my SI joint (getting up the wrong way or sitting down the wrong way) and ends up presenting as a burning sensation all across my sacrum with nerve involvement (inflammation). The sacrum at this point is tender to touch.
More than anything what has helped me is 1) a medical grade SI brace
2) exercise to realign and strengthen the pelvis
3) a combination of tumeric, boswellia, ginger and high dose silymarin
4) a grain and dairy free diet
5) alternating ice and heat
I am not overweight, had no previous health problems and was very active prior to the fall (44 years old now 45). It would help if I wasn’t standing on my feet all day at work (hence the medical grade brace) and I think it will continue to take some time but I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. The good news is that my overstretched ligaments will shorten with age and I can eventually get muscle to take over until that time.
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Hi Lisa, thanks so much for sharing your story (and my apologies for the delayed response!). I’m really glad you’ve been able to identify the problem and find a treatment plan that works for you. That’s really interesting, especially about your diet and supplement regimen. I hadn’t actually heard of boswellia or silymarin, but I’ll definitely look into them!
I really hope you have been continuing to do well.
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Thank you so much for all detailed information…
I have exactly same problem after i fell down 9 years ago…
I have pain in si joint area… Started feeling TMJ after 6 years….now feeling sensation in ulnar nerve…please let me know that ia there any relation between ulnar nerve and si joint dysfunction.
I must mention that i am gymming since last 10 months and working heavy workout also except lumber region. Running on trademill and doing cross trainer also.
But i am not able to run daily on trademil some day i feel like Superman and some day my leg feels extreme pain in hip region. My outer heal also gets painful randomly.
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Hi Tibbu, there is no direct connection between the SI joint and the ulnar nerve. However, when your SI joint is out of alignment it can certainly affect your alignment in other places. I’d recommend checking in with an orthopedist to find out exactly what’s going on with your shoulder. It may or not be related to the SI joint, but either way, there are treatments that should help!
If running on the treadmill is painful some of the time, I think it’s a sign that it might not be the best exercise for you right now. Even though it only hurts some days, the goal is to find an exercise that never causes any pain, so your SI joint ligaments can heal. That is why I personally love aquatic exercise, because there’s so much less stress on your joints. This would also put a lot less stress on your feet!
As this post explains, when your pelvic alignment is off, it can really affect the alignment in many other places, so use caution (and check in with your doctor or PT) about which forms of exercise are best for you! Hope this helps!!
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I have constant SI pain, am having leg weakness problems and have had difficulty walking for the last five months,my legs feel weak at times and like I cant control or place them correctly.Could this all be connected?
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Hi Claire, yes, it could all be connected– I’ve certainly had moments where I felt as though my legs were very weak, or off kilter. Sometimes it can be the way our muscles respond to being asked to function at a different angle, relative to the ground, than they are used to.
It is also possible to have SI joint inflammation cause irritation to the sciatic nerve, which can cause numbness and tingling down the leg. However, these symptoms can also be caused by an issue in the lumbar spine potentially compressing the sciatic nerve, so it’s a really good idea to see a specialist (such as a physiatrist, neurosurgeon, or orthopedist) to further rule this out.
Hope this helps!
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Hello! Hope you see this. 24 year old male here, back pain sitting down is the more aggravating factor. They think it is coming from my SI joints. What could be the cause? Is ankilosing spondilitis the only cause of sacroiliac joint pain? How do we distinguish from mechanical causes, or inflammatory causes? Given my age
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Hi Sergio, sorry to hear you’re going through all this. These are some really important questions.
Ankylosing spondylitis is not the only cause of SI joint pain. That is one of several autoimmune conditions which can affect the SI joints (other potential conditions include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis).
However, you can also have SI joint issues from a musculoskeletal injury, or due to mechanical causes as you phrased it. This can occur with or without an autoimmune component.
You can also have SI joint issues arise if you have a hypermobility condition, as I do. https://sijointsaga.com/2020/08/24/the-si-joint-and-hypermobility/
I know this is a lot of information– I actually have a new blog post coming out soon which elaborates.
For now, if you’re concerned about an autoimmune condition, the type of specialist you would want to see is a rheumatologist. https://www.tristatearthritis.com/rheumatology/rheumatologist/
I hope this helps!
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Thank you. As far as pain management, have you ever had any SI joint injections, blocks, or RFA? Did it appear to help, at a short term or long term basis?
Thank you!
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I personally did not use any of those options. I do know of people who’ve found the injections and RFA helpful, whereas others didn’t perceive of any relief. (I don’t think I know of anyone who’s had a block). I do think they are worth considering.
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I have been battling with my sacroiliac joints for over six years, I have tried physical therapy, I wear an SI joint belt, I now use two canes to walk, I have had prolo and cortisone injections, I see a chiropractor and get regular intramuscular stimulation. Now my doctor is sending me to have the nerves in my joints cauterized while I wait to see a surgeon. My situation is a little bit different in that my joints are actually hyper mobile. I can’t bend over, I can’t stand for very long, I can’t walk far, I can’t sit long; thus I can’t work, I can’t take care of my children like I want to, I can’t do anything it seems like and I am beyond frustrated and depressed. All I wish for these days is to have a pain free day and hope that one day I get better. It was nice reading your story though, I know I’m not alone in this and I wish the healthcare system would catch up.
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Hi Christina, I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this. Have you ever been evaluated for a hypermobility condition, such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome? I didn’t know as much about genetic hypermobility when I was going through all this, but I’ve since learned that it’s been a pretty big factor in my story, as well. Check out this post which has an update, along with some of the things I’ve learned. https://sijointsaga.com/2020/06/30/understanding-hypermobility/
I really hope you get some answers!
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Hello- I am searching for answers for 3 years already after I developed right leg shooting pain, not much pain in any of my back but mostly severe pain in my upper right thigh.
I had 4 MRL for my LS- and there are few degenerative changes (age 57) and some small bulges that have no pressure on any surrounding nerves, etc.. and all three different neuro-surgent, 2 different neurologist, numerus PT’s , Physiatrists- would tell me nothing they can do and nothing shows on MRI that is a concern. Instead- i was diagnosed with the list of different diagnoses: Degenerative disc disorder, Meralgia paresthesia, spondylosis, anxiety disorder and on and on.
I have tried Gabapentin, Robaxin, nd mostly over the counter pain killers- and the first one gave me so much bad reactions including panic attacks that i was told to stop it. Robaxin is okay- but the pains my thigh is killing me. I have deep pain in my left buttock that is unbearable. However-it is rarely on the right side but it is rather my Thigh pain which is chronic and is located on my right side. I fell as its some needle like sharp pains coming from the center of my back which triggers that same thigh excruciating pain, I feel some some groin pain too. And all has progressed from just like Sciatica simple thigh and calf shooting pain in my right leg- while 3 years later have pain in both legs, buttock pains, same shooting pain on the right side into my right calf. numbness and needles in my left leg, and as you described the outer pain in my right foot and sometimes both knees pain.
I also developed extreme calves twitching and cramping. I have been taken so many different tests- and nothing on any showing any deficiencies or pentalogies and I am considered a healthy individual without any external or internal illnesses and still in pain..
I also having this pain flare ups. Sometimes it goes away and is not excruciating- but then it comes back and I am in pain again for weeks. I was told I do not have MS or Fibromyalgia, no nerve damage, and no neurological concerns or symptoms. Ironically and sadly, My last Physiatrist has mentioned me of having a SJ dysfunction and recommended to try the SJ injection.
I am back to this excruciating pain again for the past four weeks none stop.
And then yesterday-I Went to my regular physiatrist who said that he disagrees with the other doctor who told me I might have the SJ because “on physical exams for the SJ-I have no symptoms or the pain when tested, thus, he said I shouldn’t be doing the injection.
My thigh pulls my leg apart with a pain as if its a bullet travelling through. I think sometimes my leg will blow up from the pain.
And still- no one knows what I have and no solution is found yet or has been suggested.
So the question to you: does SJ have any symptom of a thigh pain on the outer side?
Or a shooting pain down to the upper part on the inside of a calf?
I was also told that SJ is usually on only one side of the body.
but my excruciating ole root canal but in your buttock pain is severe on the left side. i also feel similar but more faded like pain in that left leg too. However- never the left thigh. The doc said this is not SJ because it cannot be on both sides. but the medical literature states that yes- SJ can trigger pain on both sides. please- help to understand that. Thank you.
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hello, i would like to share my story! in 2018 i was running regularly at a gym, and i started experiencing ankle and knee pain (most likely due to very low quality sneakers and a wrong running technique). i stupidly kept running/limping through the pain and over weeks eventually developed slight pain in my right SIJ area. i stopped running and the ankle/knee pain stopped but the SIJ pain would show up every now and then while i was doing certain exercises, like lunges. flash forward to summer 2020 i finally went to the orthopedic to get it checked out, he did an MRI and X ray but only found that my pelvis was slightly tilted – not enough to be the culprit of my symptoms apparently. he gave me a list of pelvic/spine strengthening exercises and that was it.
my symptoms are sharp/achy SIJ pain, a tight right hip that snaps when i exercise, lower right back tenseness and pain, upper right back pain and tightness around and underneath my shoulder blade as well as tight trapezius muscles on the right side – it feels exactly like i have a muscle knot from my traps to shoulder blade that cannot be relieved no matter how much i roll them with a tennis ball/massage roll. raising my arms to the side there is an obvious shoulder asymmetry, the right one is higher. recently between right shoulder blade and spine it feels like a pinched/irritated nerve that tingles and feels cold when my posture is hunched for long. additionally i have cervical spine pain on the right side of my neck that extends up to the base of my skull, which gets worse when i turn my head to the sides. also chronically swollen lymph nodes around my right ear and right ear popping, as well as jaw clicking and TMJ.
my symptoms worsen in different ways depending on the activity. my lower right back feels strained and tense whenever i walk for more than 5 minutes; whenever i mop/sweep (bending and rotation) my SIJ pain itself and complete right back pain becomes excruciating and i can’t move for the rest of the day. sitting with little movement for more than an hour creates an achy lower back pain on both sides.
the lower right back pain is unusual, it’s there slightly almost always but when i bend or rotate in certain ways i get the feeling that something is shifting/moving out of place there and my muscles will tense automatically to prevent it further.
does anyone have experience with the same type of neck/trapezius pain and pinched nerve pain in shoulder blade? i just find it so hard to accept that ALL of my issues were caused by running asymmetrically and putting uneven force on my SI joints which i suppose then rotated my hip and caused a chain reaction, but would there be any other reason that all my symptoms are on the right side?
i have been waiting to visit another orthopedic dr. to get an official SIJ dysfunction diagnosis before starting Christy’s routine. but now i am doubtful that such a diagnosis will ever be possible because it’s so difficult to diagnose? does SIJ inflammation only show up in an MRI when it is in severe pain, or simply never shows up at all? i feel so hopeless and i just don’t know if anything i try will help me, but i also think i have nothing to lose at this point. Christy, i will begin your routine and i will keep you updated!! thank you for sharing your story 🙂
**tip for anyone reading this, please please never ignore your pain like i did! pain is the body communicating that something is wrong, so listen to it and act accordingly. you could save yourself from years of continuing chronic pain.
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I’m having similar issues now! SI started on the right, then lately into my left and oddly my left hip clicks. I started getting a sharp dullness and just overall muscle soreness in the right shoulder/neck. I also have been getting sore calf muscles, like knots occasionally. Is that apart of SI? I’m so lost on this journey of trying to get better
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Hi your description of symptoms fits me like a glove, I have been suffering from this problem for over three decades, with pain in my SI joint and about five years later I had a disc rupture at my T-7, now I have terrible muscle spasms in my mid back to this day with pain and popping sensations all the way up my left side of my back, is there any type of exercises I can do to ease the muscle spasms?
Thank you, Sid A
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I started my symptoms years ago with some right pericapular pain and scapular dyskinsis. This may of been from shoulder dislocation from a year previous but also may have been c7 radiculopathy (just recently been tested and had a diminished triceps reflex).I eventually developed right neck pain and a right hip hike that caused si pain. On x-ray I have a loss of cervical lordosis as well as c1-c2 misalignment. My neck is sidebent left and basically whole body is shifted left of midline.
I have seen many people and we have been going under the assumption that the shoulder dislocation caused all my problems. Just recently I saw a chiro who tested for c7 radic.
My theory is cervical ligament hypermobility (i am naturally hypermobile but not enough to have an official diagnosis) that caused forward head posture/c1 subluxation causing pressure on lower cervical levels and subsequent radiculopathy symptoms from their the pelvis compensated for the head tilt via a righting reflex pulling right hip up causing right si pain and gait problems .
Have you seen people who acquire si problems from a cervical issue? Their is a decent amount of info of pelvis causing neck issues but not the other way around.r
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I have this. My scapular dyskinesis also caused a hip hike, however on the opposite side. Now one leg feels short and the other feels long. I also have an unstable neck. As a Kinesiology study I have been attempting corrective exercise but I don’t know how my body will stabilize. I’ve developed functional scoliosis because of this.
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Thank you so much for this. My wonderful dentist was the first person (in over 30 years of having SI joint, shoulder and jaw pain) who said that it was my misaligned bite that could cause this. I’d had braces twice before in my life and remembered that when my teeth were straight I had no other pains. So about 3 months ago I got Invisalign and am feeling a bit better. My teeth shifted through the years as I didn’t keep wearing a retainer.
Just now I did some SI release exercises and note that my TMJ pain and shoulder pain is gone. My dentist said it’s all related!! So that’s why I looked this up and was happy to see that other people are talking about this. He referred me to an orthodontist where I got the Invisalign. Bite plates also worked but never were a permanent fix.
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Has anyone developed knee problems due to dysfunctional S1 joint ?
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Yes. For me, I had IT band tightness causing my kneecap to track improperly, leading to a degenerative meniscus tear and chondromalacia (degeneration and painful inflammation of the cartilage under the kneecap.) Got treated with myofascial release and PT which helped, but the pain kept returning. 4 months into the pain I finally found a PT who identified the root cause – a twisted pelvis from a car accident 2.5 years ago. I had been on crutches for a week due to the pain, and then this PT spent 5 minutes realigning my pelvis and I walked out with zero pain, for the first time in over a month. I’d also had a dull pain in my lower back since the accident, that went away with stretching but always returned the next day. Once she adjusted me that pain was gone too. It’s worth finding someone who knows about SI joint issues!
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