Sacroiliac joint dysfunction/ short history of what helped me......

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After one year of suffering and lack of a good night's sleep, my physician sent me to a spine center for steroid injection. The relief lasted about three days.

Next went to PT, which seemed to make things worse. Continued with stretching exercises at home. A substitute therapist performed a "cross ligament massage" which was uncomfortable during but gave me great relief afterward. I continued to massage the "hypermobile ligament" at home.

The most helpful to me was using a sacroiliac support belt made of leather and velcro. I ordered it over the internet, about $65. I wear this over my underwear and under my slacks all day. Along with gentle abdominal strengthening exercises , the stretching and massaging the ligament, I am gradually improving daily. I also wear a pantygirdle when necessary.

Any time I twist or bend, I now tighten my abs and buttocks first. It's becomes a habit.

I hope this helps someone.
 
Thanks for sharing your information. I know that there are numerous people here who have SI problems, including myself. I tried the SI belt, but it was not with therapy. The belt alone did not work, but I am wondering if it may have worked if I had the therapy along with it. On bad days, I also do the girdle and that helps a good bit.

Thanks again,
Lorie:angel:
 
Sacroiliac belt: I've tried one of those, all day, partial days, and just sleeping - no help at all. I have also tried wearing snug cycling shorts, girdles, and corsets (both medical grade and underclothing) - again, at different times and length of times - no help. However, I know they have helped MANY people - so for sure try them before judging. All SI injuries seem different to me. What helps me is increased strength and repeated corrections through the day, along with extreme attention to my posture and movements habits. My core is engaged all freakin day it seems.

And no matter what, I'm uncorrected in the AM almost all the time. Probably 350 days of the last year. The days I stayed in were after 3 different SI steroid injections (that wear off within 10 days for me).

My understanding of the AM pain is that once I get out of bed, the load of my torso is too much for my injuried sleep-weakened muscles & ligaments to hold me in once I stand. But again, this could apply to some and not others; I can't know. I do know that once I am corrected again, standing all day will keep me in. Prolonged sitting is bad for me. And if I do sit, it must be perfect;y upright as if on the end of a hard chair. I read recently that somehow the connection of the leg bones to the hip socket while standing also provide stability that is gone when seated.

Anyhow, I can lessen AM pain by waking and taking an NSAID dose 1-2 hours before I need to be up. Then when I'm planning to get up, first I stretch my legs (at the same time/angle) slowly and mildly, and then do a quick 'in bed' workout engaging my core and multifidis before getting up. Maybe getting those muscles warm and active before asking them to hold me up helps - along with lessening the inflammation left over from the night.

Multifidis - I do kegels. Hold them as long as you can, adding a pretend effort to prevent a bowel movement. It's crazy....if you do a kegel, you can feel the muscle working all the way up by your hip bones if you place your fingers just inside them. I guess it's an internal SI girlde. I could only do 10 sec reps at first; now I'm at a minute at a time.
FYI!
Be well....
 
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