"Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction and Back Pain"

Dysfunctions in the sacroiliac joint is known to cause lower back pain.  This pain is also accompanied by shooting pains in the leg called sciatica. The symptoms mimic other common conditions, such as disc herniation and sciatic nerve pain (pain along the sciatic nerve that radiates down the leg). A diagnosis is usually arrived at through physical examination and cat scans as well as back pain tests.

 The sacroiliac joint lies next to the spine and connects the sacrum (the triangular bone at the bottom of the spine) with the pelvis (called the iliac crest). sacroiliac joint dysfunction is common among people who have a FTP.

In physical examination, the doctor may try to determine if the sacroiliac joint is the cause of pain by moving of the joint. If the movement recreates the patient back pain, and no other cause of back pain has been found then degenerative disc disease of the sacroiliac joint may be the culprit. There are several orthopedic tests that can be used in attempt to positively identify the symptoms associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

This condition is generally more common in young and middle age women than is active males.

Article courtesy of Steve Hefferon and Jesse Cannone of www.losethebackpain.com. Get the facts on sciatica that your not getting from your doctor... free access to back pain articles, information, and research.