S.I. Joint pain

[Shamis]

I struggled with this several years ago. I just did the stretches recommended, bought different shoes, and worked on following through better. it went away.

I firmly believe nearly all random back problems can be cured by switching to a different style of shoe. It's always either the shoes, or the work chair, or my bed. Every time. But core muscle strength will give you more resistance to these issues.

 

[Mspot]

Just curious, why do you say that a medical doctor will not help?? do you have any experience on the issue? or any data to back this claim??

I am a medical provider. not a spine specialist, but I know a thing or two about medicine. Western medicine is definitely geared towards pills and surgery. You can take all the motrin, norco and whatever other pills you want, but back pain does not just resolve itself with pills. surgery or invasive procedures are definitely a last resort. Anytime you cut the skin you are going to be left with scar tissue; and results of back procedures are not the best (as compared to joints like knees, shoulders, hips...). Assuming you didn't suffer an acute traumatic injury (ie. a significant fall or car accident) the vast majority of back problems are not time sensitive (meaning you are not going to get worse just because you didn't see a doctor right away). Studies have shown that 50% of people WITHOUT back pain (people that feel perfectly fine) have a disc herniation that can be seen on MRI. I don't think there is anything wrong with seeing a doctor for your back pain... but at the same time I highly doubt you are going to get a magical answer.... So I would definitely recommend trying some conservative treatment such as: losing weight, ice, strengthening your core muscles, stretching, chiropractor, acupuncture, physical therapy... unfortunately that is generally not what people want to hear.

 

[DavidSauls]

I don't think there is anything wrong with seeing a doctor for your back pain... but at the same time I highly doubt you are going to get a magical answer.... So I would definitely recommend trying some conservative treatment such as: losing weight, ice, strengthening your core muscles, stretching, chiropractor, acupuncture, physical therapy... unfortunately that is generally not what people want to hear.

That's always what I want to hear. I just want to make sure I know what the problem is, so I don't pursue the wrong remedy.

My injuries have been to knees, shoulder, and elbow. Of the 5 times I've gone to an orthopedist, I've had 3 surgeries---2 of which he didn't push on me, just told me that sooner or later I'd come to him to fix them---but he also recommended complete rest and anti-inflammatories for 1, and a stretching regimen for another. Perhaps I'm lucky to have stumbled upon an orthopedist who isn't surgery-first.

I first saw him after wasting 2 years trying rest, enduring the pain, chiropractor, painkillers, and physical therapy for a shoulder injury---none of which was going to fix my torn labrum. But I lost 2 years

And with that said, yes, much back pain can be relieved without surgery, and surgery should be the last option. It's amazing how often stretching, particularly hamstrings, is the key. But my recommendation is, when time and rest don't work or the pain is too severe, find out exactly what's wrong.

 

[ranger]

I will preface by saying I am not a doctor or in the medical field.

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[zgmc]

Chiropractor and acupuncture are probably the two worst options. If you're gonna go that route you might as well go all in with reflexology. Maybe crystal therapy? That probably works. But seriously, if you go to a chiropractor and he claims to be able to cure various ailments through adjustments, go find a different chiro, cause that guys a quack.

 

[DavidSauls]

Chiropractor and acupuncture are probably the two worst options. If you're gonna go that route you might as well go all in with reflexology. Maybe crystal therapy? That probably works. But seriously, if you go to a chiropractor and he claims to be able to cure various ailments through adjustments, go find a different chiro, cause that guys a quack.

But if the ailment's back pain????

I've had no help from chiropractors, but know enough people who have found significant relief with them.

For back pain. I share your skepticism with the claims to cure other ailments, but either they can relieve certain types of back pain, or are offering a very effective placebo.

 

[zgmc]

But if the ailment's back pain????

I've had no help from chiropractors, but know enough people who have found significant relief with them.

For back pain. I share your skepticism with the claims to cure other ailments, but either they can relieve certain types of back pain, or are offering a very effective placebo.

You're right, they can help with certain types of pain. Its like anything else, there are good ones, and there are really bad ones who make outrageous claims in order to make you part with your hard earned cash.

 

[eegor]

Chiropractor and acupuncture are probably the two worst options. If you're gonna go that route you might as well go all in with reflexology. Maybe crystal therapy? That probably works. But seriously, if you go to a chiropractor and he claims to be able to cure various ailments through adjustments, go find a different chiro, cause that guys a quack.

Having a job in the steel industry, I can tell you what all of us do with back pain. We go to a chiroprator first to see if we can get back to work without missing time. Most of the time, this does the trick. When it doesn't, we go to the doctor so he can prescribe physical therapy and pain medication if necessary. As a truck driver, I avoid the medication if at all possible. The pain can prevent you from making the injury worse.

I don't recommend youtube videos, friends that know stuff or guys on an internet forum. I do recommend seeing a professional that could help you. I know it's not cheap, but SI joint problems can be very serious. My wife can barely walk because of SI issues. Good luck.

 

[fasteddy8170]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, my injury wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was. That's the good news. The bad news is that it took me until about ten days ago to figure out the problem.

Turns out, I do not have an SI Joint problem. After I wrote the original post I started researching that ailment. Although I had a few of the symptoms, the people who have that problem are in CONSTANT pain. Me? I wasn't. In fact, as long as I didn't throw any discs, I was about 85% fine. I didn't even need Advil really. But sleeping could be a problem.

So, given that, I was started saying, "It's not an SI problem. It's something else." And I knew it was a spine problem because there was no pain in the discs. It was primarily off to the right side and low.

But here's what I think happened (and a bit of this is guessing because I never went to the doctor's) . . . on the day that I hurt myself playing, I believe--no proof--I believe I tore my gluteus medius muscle. Because days after I wrote the original post I could feel this pain DEEP in the right side of my butt.

In addition, what I discovered is I had a huge muscle knot in my gluteus maximus to the point that the entire lower right side of my back was in spasm. The weird part? I really didn't know it. I didn't figure it out until I really started comparing the lower left side of my back against the lower right side. And I was like, "This ain't right."

Well, my butt and lower back were locked up like that for at least 6 weeks. NO WONDER when I was trying to play that my back lower right side would hurt . . . it was all locked up. But once again, in daily life, I hardly noticed at all.

So, I got the heating pad out. I put it on high and heat soaked that side for like two hours. Then I took a baseball and started rolling it around. Did that for about 5 days straight. And now, everything's great although that area is still a little sore. But as far as I can tell, nothing is damaged.

And that muscle pull that I think I experienced originally is gone. No pain. But I think pulling that muscle caused my pelvis to get all funky. Then the rest of the back muscles and butt muscles on the right side tensed up to compensate. And even though the medius muscle healed, those other muscles never unlocked until I took the baseball to them.

But I went and threw today. No problems. I think I got very very lucky. I really think it could've been way worse. I'm 46 after all. Very fortunate. But now it's like it never happened.

 

[DiscFifty]

"But I went and threw today. No problems. I think I got very very lucky." Sounds like you were lucky...or you have a bit of scar tissue that has fused making it feel stronger and healed, until it rips again and the injury gets even worse. I've had a few serious disc golf injuries, but now days it's a lot of stretching, before and after, weight training, etc. I highly recommend to anyone with a possible injury to take some time off from disc golf, see a doctor, and never throw if you have any pain at all.

 

[eegor]

I know they're not free, but a good chiropractor can be a great friend when you get older. There are horror stories with some of them, but most will do the right thing... help you when they can and refer you to an MD when they can't. Find someone that knows a good one and use their referral.

Glad to hear you're feeling better.