What Causes Sacroiliitis and Is It Serious?

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we understand that sacroiliitis—an inflammation of the sacroiliac joints connecting your lower spine and pelvis—can significantly impact your daily life, ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain and reduced mobility. The severity and progression of sacroiliitis often depend on the underlying conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or reactive arthritis. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to chronic inflammation, joint damage, and long-term complications.

Without proper intervention, sacroiliitis may result in persistent lower back pain, stiffness, decreased mobility, and structural joint changes, severely affecting your overall quality of life. Early diagnosis and a comprehensive approach to pain management are key to controlling symptoms, reducing inflammation, and preventing further damage.

At our practice, we provide personalized care plans tailored to your individual needs. Our specialists utilize advanced treatments, including medications, physical therapy, lifestyle counseling, joint injections, and minimally invasive interventional procedures, to effectively address the root cause of your pain. If you’re experiencing ongoing lower back or hip discomfort, we encourage you to contact San Antonio Pain Consultants promptly. Our compassionate, experienced team is committed to helping you achieve lasting relief and improved quality of life.

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we understand how significantly sacroiliitis can impact your daily life. Sacroiliitis refers to inflammation of one or both of your sacroiliac joints, located where your lower spine connects to your pelvis. This inflammation often causes pain, stiffness, and discomfort in your lower back, buttocks, or thighs, and may even radiate down one or both legs, mimicking symptoms similar to sciatica.

Our patients commonly report that their pain worsens after prolonged sitting or standing, as well as during activities like climbing stairs, bending, or walking. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe, ongoing pain, which, if untreated, may limit your mobility, disrupt your daily activities, and negatively affect your overall quality of life.

Over time, persistent inflammation from sacroiliitis may lead to joint degeneration or fusion, reducing your flexibility and range of motion. Additionally, sacroiliitis might be related to underlying inflammatory conditions like ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or reactive arthritis. It can also result from trauma, pregnancy-related changes, or infection.

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, our goal is to accurately diagnose and treat sacroiliitis early, preventing long-term complications and helping you regain your quality of life. We offer personalized treatment plans that combine effective therapies such as targeted physical therapy to strengthen supporting muscles, medication management to reduce inflammation, and lifestyle guidance to minimize joint stress. For more severe cases, our specialists may recommend minimally invasive options such as injections or, in rare instances, surgical intervention.

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we understand that the long-term prognosis for individuals diagnosed with sacroiliitis can vary significantly based on multiple factors, including the underlying cause, severity, duration of inflammation, responsiveness to treatments, and adherence to recommended therapies. Sacroiliitis, which involves inflammation of one or both sacroiliac joints, commonly arises from conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, infections, or traumatic injuries.

Our specialists at San Antonio Pain Consultants emphasize early diagnosis and comprehensive management strategies tailored specifically to each patient. Through a combination of carefully selected medications, targeted physical therapy, minimally invasive interventions, and lifestyle modifications, many of our patients experience significant pain relief, improved joint mobility, and enhanced long-term outcomes. For instance, individuals with sacroiliitis associated with inflammatory conditions like ankylosing spondylitis can greatly benefit from advanced biologic therapies, anti-inflammatory medications, and personalized interventions offered at our clinic, helping to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and prevent further joint deterioration.

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, our team specializes in diagnosing and effectively managing chronic sacroiliitis, a condition characterized by persistent inflammation of one or both sacroiliac joints—the joints connecting your lower spine to your pelvis and supporting your body’s weight.

● Comprehensive Conservative Care
Initially, our experts often recommend conservative approaches. We emphasize personalized physical therapy programs, where certified therapists guide you through exercises specifically designed to stretch and strengthen the muscles around your pelvis, hips, and lower back. These exercises help stabilize your sacroiliac joint, reduce pain, and significantly enhance your daily function.

● Medication Management
At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we offer tailored pain relief strategies, including medications. Our physicians may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—such as ibuprofen or naproxen—to reduce inflammation and ease discomfort. In cases where NSAIDs alone are insufficient, our specialists may use targeted corticosteroid injections directly into the sacroiliac joint, providing temporary but meaningful relief from inflammation and pain. Our medical team carefully monitors these treatments to ensure safety and effectiveness.

● Advanced Minimally Invasive Procedures
When conservative therapies do not sufficiently address your pain, our board-certified pain specialists may recommend advanced, minimally invasive procedures. Techniques such as radiofrequency ablation—an innovative treatment using electric current to safely interrupt specific nerve pathways transmitting pain signals—can offer significant, long-lasting relief for many patients experiencing chronic sacroiliitis.

● Surgical Options for Severe Cases
In rare, severe cases of chronic sacroiliitis unresponsive to conservative and minimally invasive interventions, our team coordinates closely with trusted surgical specialists. Surgical treatment options, including sacroiliac joint fusion, may be considered to stabilize the joint and prevent abnormal movements that perpetuate inflammation and chronic pain. Surgery is reserved for cases with persistent severe disability, carefully evaluated by our team in collaboration with surgical experts.

● Lifestyle Support and Complementary Therapies
At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we believe in a holistic approach to chronic pain management. Our providers offer guidance on lifestyle modifications, such as maintaining a healthy weight to reduce joint strain and using proper posture and ergonomic strategies to prevent further irritation of the sacroiliac joint. Additionally, complementary therapies, including acupuncture, massage therapy, or therapeutic yoga, may be incorporated into your individualized treatment plan to promote overall wellness and enhance pain relief.

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we are committed to creating comprehensive, personalized treatment plans tailored specifically to your unique needs, symptoms, and overall health, ensuring you receive the most effective care possible for chronic sacroiliitis. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are located at 3903 Wiseman Blvd, Ste 117, San Antonio, TX 78251. We serve patients from San Antonio TX, Helotes TX, Alamo Ranch TX, Leon Valley TX, Shavano Park TX, Balcones Heights TX, Fair Oaks TX, Fair Oaks Ranch TX, Castroville TX, and surrounding areas.