What is the Difference Between Sacroiliitis and SI Joint Dysfunction

Sacroiliitis and SI joint dysfunction are two conditions due to problems in the SI joint in the body. SI joint, or sacroiliac joint, is the largest joint in the body. The SI joint is a connection point between the spine and the pelvis. The primary function of this joint is to distribute the upper body’s weight equally onto the lower extremities.

The key difference between sacroiliitis and SI joint dysfunction is their cause. Sacroiliitis is due to a specific inflammatory process present in the SI joint, while  SI joint dysfunction is due to ligamentous weaknesses, resulting in excessive motion and slight mispositioning of the SI joint.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Sacroiliitis 
3. What is SI Joint Dysfunction
4. Similarities – Sacroiliitis and SI Joint Dysfunction
5. Sacroiliitis vs SI Joint Dysfunction in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Sacroiliitis vs SI Joint Dysfunction
7. FAQ – Sacroiliitis and SI Joint Dysfunction

What is Sacroiliitis?

Sacroiliitis is a condition due to the inflammation of the sacroiliac joint. This usually results in pain. The symptoms of this condition may include pain in the lower back that gets worse after sitting or standing in one position for a long time, pain that gets worse when turning or rotating the hips, sudden sharp and stabbing pain, and pain that radiates from the lower back to the buttocks, hips, or thighs. Moreover, arthritis is the main cause of sacroiliitis.

Figure 01: Sacroiliitis

Sacroiliitis can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood test, X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound. Furthermore, treatment options for this condition may include taking NSAIDs, muscle relaxers, corticosteroids, radiofrequency ablation, and physical therapy.

What is SI Joint Dysfunction?

SI joint dysfunction is a condition that results from flawed movement of either one or both of the SI joints at the base of the spine. SI joint dysfunction is known by other names as well, such as SI joint syndrome and SI joint disorder. This condition is a significant source of pain in 15% to 30% of people with mechanical lower back pain. Moreover, the most common symptoms of this condition include pain usually localized over the buttock, sharp, stabbing, and/or shooting pain that extends down the posterior thigh, pain that can frequently mimic radicular pain, difficulty sitting in one place for too long due to pain, local tenderness of the posterior aspect of the SI joint, pain that occurs when the joint is mechanically stressed, an aberrant sacroiliac movement pattern, and pain while sitting down or climbing stairs.

Figure 02: SI Joint

SI joint dysfunction can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and injection test. Furthermore, treatment options for SI joint dysfunction may include home exercise programs, taking over-the-counter pain medications, bracing, wearing belts, manipulative therapy, and physical therapy.

Similarities Between Sacroiliitis and SI Joint Dysfunction

1. Sacroiliitis and SI joint dysfunction are two conditions due to problems in the SI joint in the body.
2. Both conditions cause lower back pain.
3. Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
4. They can be treated through specific medications and therapies.

Difference Between Sacroiliitis and SI Joint Dysfunction

Definition

1. Sacroiliitis is the painful inflammation in the SI joints where the spine connects to the pelvis.
2. SI joint dysfunction is characterized by discomfort in the lower back and buttocks due to problems or issues with the sacroiliac joint.

Causes

1. The causes of sacroiliitis include damage to the sacroiliac joints from falling or after a car accident, an altered gait during pregnancy, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, an infected sacroiliac joint, gout, and existing back or spine issues.
2. The causes of SI joint dysfunction include abnormal motion or malalignment of the sacroiliac joint.

Symptoms

1. The symptoms of sacroiliitis are pain in the lower back, hips, buttocks, and down the legs, pain that may get worse after standing for a long time, going up or down stairs, or running or walking with long strides.
2. The symptoms of SI joint dysfunction are lower back pain, pain, numbness, tingling, weakness in the lower extremity pelvis/buttock pain, hip/groin pain, feeling of leg instability, disturbed sleep patterns, disturbed sitting patterns, and pain going from sitting to standing.

Diagnosis

1. Sacroiliitis can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood test, X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound.
2. SI joint dysfunction can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and injection test.

Treatment

1. Treatment options for sacroiliitis include taking pain medication or a muscle relaxer, a TNF inhibitor, alternating ice and heat to help relieve pain and inflammation, physical therapy, taking corticosteroid injections, using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and surgery.
2. Treatment options for SI joint dysfunction  include resting, keeping ice or applying heat in the affected area, taking acetaminophen, anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) to reduce pain, undergoing manual manipulation provided by a chiropractor, using supports or braces, and controlled, gradual physical therapy.

The following table summarizes the difference between sacroiliitis and SI joint dysfunction.

Summary – Sacroiliitis vs SI Joint Dysfunction

Sacroiliac joints link the pelvis and lower spine. The sacroiliac joints support bearing the weight of the upper body when standing. Sacroiliitis and SI joint dysfunction are two conditions due to problems in the SI joint in the body. Sacroiliitis is inflammation within the sacroiliac joint, while SI joint dysfunction results from flawed movement of either one or both of two small, firm SI joints at the base of the spine. This summarizes the difference between sacroiliitis and SI joint dysfunction.

FAQ: Sacroiliitis and SI Joint Dysfunction

1. What are the SI joints?

• The SI joints articulate the surfaces of the sacrum and the ilium and function as the transition between the spine and pelvis. The main functions of the SI joint are to provide stability and balance the load of the trunk on the lower limbs.

2. How do people know if they have sacroiliitis?

• If people have sacroiliitis, they may feel lower back pain. People may also feel sharp and stabbing pain or dull and achy pain. This pain may get worse after standing for a long time, going up or down stairs, or running or walking with long strides.

3. How to cure sacroiliitis?

• Sacroiliitis is mainly cured by physical therapy. The other treatment options are taking pain medication or muscle relaxers, TNF inhibitors, applying ice and heat to help relieve pain and inflammation, taking corticosteroid injections, using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and surgery.

4. Is SI joint dysfunction a disability?

• For people who suffer from severe SI joint dysfunction, it may be impossible to work at all. If this condition causes severe lower back pain and prevents people from earning a living, it may qualify for a social security disability.

5. How to fix SI joint dysfunction?

• SI joint dysfunction can be fixed through controlled, gradual physical therapy, doing low-impact aerobic exercise, and other treatment options such as applying ice or heat in the affected area, taking acetaminophen, anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) to reduce pain, undergoing manual manipulation provided by a chiropractor, and using supports or braces.

Reference:

1. Wells, Diana. “Sacroiliitis: Treatments, Causes, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
2. Steven Yeomans, DC. “Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain).” Spine Health.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Sacroiliac Joint” by Blausen.com staff (2014). “Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014“. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436.
2. “Sacroiliitis MRI ar1934-5” By Fiona McQueen, Marissa Lassere and Mikkel Østergaard – Magnetic resonance imaging in psoriatic arthritis: a review of the literature – Arthritis Research & Therapy 2006, 8:207. doi:10.1186/ar1934 (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

Difference Between Striated Non Striated and Cardiac Muscles What is the Difference Between Tubercle and Tuberosity What is the Difference Between Tarsal and Metatarsal What is the Difference Between Primary and Association Cortex What is the Difference Between Glenoid Cavity and Acetabulum