Introduction
15 to 30 percent of people suffering from long-term lower back pain. The source of the backpain is one of the SI joint, that connects spine with the pelvis.
But it is not always easy to recognize sacroiliac joint as a problem for people or their doctors. However, sacroiliac joint is the largest joint in your body there due to its location, doctors have difficulty detecting any problem during the physical examination. It can be difficult for the imaging tests to capture the high quality pictures that can show it.
Sacroiliac joint issues can be confused with other painful situations, such as hip arthritis, sciatica, and regular examination can not always determine what's going on.
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To diagnose SI joint disease, doctors usually rely on the results of three or more tests. You can find most of these tests at your doctor's office.
Tests That You Will Find In Your Doctor's Office
Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history and then perform a physical exam. This includes checking your posture and your walking ability. They will then perform some physical examinations tests to determine from where the pain is coming and how your sacroiliac joint moves.
There are some most common tests mentioned below.
Cranial Shear Test
The doctor places pressure on your tailbone while you lie down on your stomach on an examination table to check for discomfort and pain.
Flamingo Test
The doctor asks that you stand on the leg, where you feel hop and pain.
Gaenslen's Test
As you lie down in a supine position, your doctor will bend and press one knee towards your chest while pushing the other leg off the side of the table.
Gillet Test
Stand with your feet approximately 12 inches apart with one leg lifted and flexed. The doctor will stand behind you and presses on each side of your tailbones with their thumbs. This is done to check that your movements are correct or not.
Pelvic Compression Test
The doctor presses down on your upper hip while you lay on your side.
Pelvic Distraction Test
While you lie in a supine position, the doctor presses on the both side of your pelvis simultaneously.
Patrick's Test (Faber Test)
Lie face up and place the foot on the side that hurts against the opposite knee. The doctor presses against the opposite pelvis & the knee simultaneously.
Imaging Tests
Your doctor may require imaging tests to get pictures of the inside of your pelvis and lower back. They can also use X-rays to look for any changes in the sacroiliac joint. CT scan (Computed Tomography) is a powerful X-ray scan that can provide even more details.
Occasionally doctors may use MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which uses the powerful magnets and radio waves, to make pictures of the organs and structures in your body. It can aid in ruling out any other issues that could cause similar symptoms.
Injection Test
The most surest way to know for the doctor that whether you have a dysfunction in SI joints, is through an injection of numbing medicine in your joint. An ultrasound and X-ray guides the doctor in finding out where to put the needle in. If the pain disappears after administering the injection shot, this will let you know that the SI joint is the problem. This test is slightly risky compared to the other tests so doctors will only perform it if other tests fail to resolve the problem.
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