Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is one of the most commonly missed causes of low back pain. Patients arrive at ProSpinal for sacroiliac joint dysfunction treatment in Reno after months of being treated for sciatica, a disc problem, or a hip issue, only to find none of those treatments addressed the real source. The pain often looks like sciatica but originates from a completely different joint.
According to research published through the National Library of Medicine, up to a quarter of low back pain may originate from the sacroiliac joint, and the condition is frequently misdiagnosed as radicular or lumbar pain. ProSpinal offers non surgical sacroiliac joint dysfunction treatment designed to identify whether the SI joint is contributing to your symptoms and address it directly.
Call ProSpinal at (775) 336-3472 to schedule your free consultation and find out whether structured SI joint treatment may be right for your condition.
What the Sacroiliac Joint Is and Why It Causes Pain
The sacroiliac joint, or SI joint, sits between the sacrum at the base of your spine and the iliac bone of your pelvis. There are two of them, one on each side, and together they transfer the weight of your upper body down through your pelvis to your legs. Unlike the joints in your knees or shoulders, the SI joint allows very little motion. When that small amount of motion becomes restricted, excessive, or asymmetric, the joint becomes a source of pain.
Why SI Joint Pain Gets Misdiagnosed So Often
Sacroiliac joint pain is sometimes called “the great impostor” because it mimics several other conditions. Pain from the SI joint frequently extends down the back of the thigh and can be misdiagnosed as radicular pain. The SI joint is also harder to image than a disc, so MRIs of patients with SI dysfunction often look unremarkable. Many providers do not test for SI involvement specifically, and patients then receive treatment aimed at conditions they may not even have while the actual source of pain continues unaddressed.
Common Causes of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
SI joint pain can arise from a wide range of causes, broadly grouped into traumatic and non-traumatic categories. The most common include:
- Falls onto the buttock, motor vehicle collisions, or sports impact
- Repetitive shearing or torsional stress from activities like golf, figure skating, or heavy lifting
- Pregnancy and the postpartum period
- Prior lumbar spinal fusion that shifts load onto the SI joints
- Leg length discrepancy that creates asymmetric loading
- Spinal arthritis or inflammatory arthropathies affecting the joint surfaces
- Sustained postural patterns from work or sleep that load one side more than the other
Identifying which cause is driving your pain shapes the entire approach.
When Pregnancy or Spinal Surgery Is the Trigger
Two subgroups deserve a closer look. For women whose SI pain began during pregnancy, the loosening of pelvic ligaments before delivery sometimes does not fully reverse afterward, leaving SI pain that persists for months or years postpartum. For patients with prior lumbar fusion, redistributed load is one of the most underrecognized sources of pain after spinal fusion. Research published through PubMed has shown roughly a twofold increase in SI joint degeneration following lumbar fusion compared to controls. We address this overlap in coordination with our failed back surgery pain relief approach.
Signs Your Pain May Be Coming From the SI Joint
The pain pattern of SI joint dysfunction has several recognizable features:
- One-sided low back pain, usually felt below the belt line
- Pain that most patients can localize with one finger, often pointing to a spot near the dimple at the base of the spine
- Pain that radiates into the buttock or back of the thigh, with most patients describing pain that stays above the knee
- Worse with prolonged sitting, especially with weight shifted to one side
- Pain when transitioning from sitting to standing
- Discomfort climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, or rolling over in bed
- Symptoms that began after a fall, car accident, pregnancy, or prior spinal surgery
If your pain pattern matches several of these, SI joint involvement is worth evaluating, especially if previous treatments aimed at the spine or hip have not helped.
How We Evaluate Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction at ProSpinal
Patients searching for an SI joint specialist in Reno often arrive after months of being told the imaging is normal, so part of our job is to clarify whether the SI joint was actually tested. Our process includes review of symptom history with attention to onset and one-sided patterns, postural and gait assessment, palpation directly over the SI joint and surrounding structures, the Fortin finger test to localize tenderness, provocative testing using maneuvers that load the SI joint specifically, neurological screening to rule out radicular involvement, review of prior imaging when available, and screening for symptoms that warrant medical referral rather than conservative care.
After assessment, we explain findings in clear language and outline whether non surgical SI joint dysfunction treatment is appropriate for your presentation.
Non Surgical Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Treatment Options
Conservative care for SI joint dysfunction focuses on restoring normal joint motion, calming the inflammatory response, and correcting the asymmetric loading patterns that keep stressing the joint. Our approach combines several modalities, applied selectively based on your evaluation findings. Class IV deep tissue laser therapy uses focused light energy to support circulation and reduce inflammation around the joint capsule and surrounding ligaments. StemWave acoustic shockwave therapy uses focused acoustic shockwaves to address the muscles around the pelvis that tighten in protective guarding patterns and pull more load onto the irritated joint. We also incorporate targeted soft tissue work and movement guidance addressing gait, posture, and one-sided loading patterns.
When SI Joint Dysfunction Overlaps With Other Conditions
SI joint pain often coexists with other lumbar and pelvic conditions. The lumbar spine, hip, and SI joint share load and influence each other’s mechanics, so dysfunction in one area can pull the others into compensation patterns. We evaluate the full lumbar and pelvic region during assessment. Patients whose SI involvement coexists with broader lumbar pain may benefit from our chronic lower back pain treatment in Reno approach. Patients whose symptoms include leg radiation that does not match the SI pattern may have concurrent sciatic nerve involvement, which we address through our sciatica treatment program when findings support it.
Where to Find Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Treatment in Reno
ProSpinal is located at 10635 Professional Circle, Suite B, in South Reno. We serve patients from Midtown, Damonte Ranch, Sparks, Double Diamond, Caughlin Ranch, and throughout Washoe County. Patients also travel from Carson City, Incline Village, and surrounding Northern Nevada communities for specialized non surgical spinal care. Our clinic focuses exclusively on non surgical, drug free pain relief.
Frequently Asked Questions About SI Joint Dysfunction Treatment
How Is SI Joint Pain Different From Hip Joint Pain?
Both can produce pain in the back of the pelvis and upper thigh, which is why they get confused. Hip pain typically sits more in the groin or outer hip and worsens with internal rotation of the leg. SI joint pain sits higher and more medially, closer to the spine, and tends to worsen with transitions like sitting to standing. We test for both during evaluation since the two can also coexist.
Why Did My MRI Come Back Normal?
The SI joint does not image well on standard MRI. Most MRIs are ordered to evaluate the lumbar spine and discs, not the SI joints. Even dedicated SI joint imaging often appears unremarkable in patients with significant pain because the dysfunction involves motion and loading patterns rather than structural damage that shows up on a scan. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on history and physical examination.
How Long Does SI Joint Treatment Typically Take?
Treatment timelines depend on how long symptoms have been present, what caused them, and whether contributing patterns like leg length discrepancy or compensatory gait are present. Patients with recent SI flare-ups sometimes notice meaningful change within a few weeks of structured care. Longer-standing cases involving years of compensation patterns usually require a longer plan. We set realistic expectations during your evaluation and reassess at each visit.
Will Specific Exercises Help or Hurt SI Joint Pain?
It depends on the type of dysfunction. Patients with hypermobile SI joints need stabilization-focused exercises that strengthen the gluteal and core muscles supporting the joint. Patients with restricted SI motion benefit from mobility work in a controlled range. Generic stretching and core programs can sometimes worsen SI pain because they do not distinguish between these patterns. We address exercise direction during your evaluation based on which type of dysfunction is present.
Schedule Your SI Joint Dysfunction Treatment Consultation in Reno Today
One-sided lower back and buttock pain that has not responded to treatment aimed at the spine or hip may be coming from the SI joint. ProSpinal provides structured, non surgical sacroiliac joint dysfunction treatment in Reno designed to identify whether the SI joint is driving your pain and address it directly.
Call ProSpinal today at (775) 336-3472 to schedule your free consultation and find out whether structured non surgical care can help you move forward with confidence.