SI joint dysfunction?

I have struggled with this for a year and a half... seen several physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors... I ice regularly, stretch, and move around on a tennis ball to massage/loosen up the area periodically. What works best for me is a yoga type stretch called (the pigeon)... cross one leg over the other, knee to chest, and hold for like a minute... tough to explain... It is a deep stretch that really loosens up the ligaments that I damaged... my SI dyfunction was brought about by a traumatic running on the beach type thing.

Do not bail out on the advice of a PT... just because what they are saying is not working... you need several weeks/months of patience... following their advice to really see if it is helpful... BUT you need to go to a reputable PT... one that works with athletes (and runners)....

Hang in there. It will get better.

I am starting back to running again after nearly four months off. It is a long process... as the ligaments/muscles are getting used to the stress again... but I think it is a go.

Go with Yoga, I had an SI problem that gave me ITB problems for 4 years. After taking Yoga for 1 year the ITB problem is all but gone. My issue was also related to scar tissue in the glute caused by an old injury. Doing the Yoga position Warrior (a deep lunge), I was able to break the scar tissue. An amazing feeling to say the least!

everything you ever wanted to know about the topic including exercises and self traction.

I've had this kind of problem in the past. I agree with those who say it takes a lot of time to correct it. Stretch, stretch, stretch! In my case, a leg-length discrepancy and extremely tight hip flexors kept pulling my pelvis out of symmetry and "locking" my left SI. Took months of physical therapy to correct the problem but well worth every minute. Have your PT check your leg lengths (true length as well as iliac crest. Good luck!

what exactly is SI joint dysfunction? what are the symptoms?

I realize that I am responding to a thread posted over three years ago by someone who may, for all I know, even be dead.

However, I am suffering from moderate to severe SI joint discomfort. I have been out of running for 4 months and I really want to start coming back (I tried running the other day and I experienced 33 minutes of pain. I want this to go away. More importantly, if this issue is degenerative I really need to do something about it before my everyday life is dramatically impaired.

Please comment on how to combat this. Keep in mind that I have no health insurance and I have almost no money. I can probably spend about a hundred dollars per month on treatment. But I also have access to athletic trainers at a small college who haven't been of much help so far.

I forgot to mention that my symptoms are nearly identical to the original poster's.

i was struggling w/a similar thing but it was fairly minor. i saw a fairly well-respected sports med. doc who was gonna put me in a belt-type thing. i ended up just returning to physical therapy cuz i didn't really buy into it and have since gotten better, but it could be worthwhile for serious si dysfunction.

I had this problem for 2 years and it went completely away after I discovered it was all due to overly tight hip flexors. I used a exercise ball to stabilize myslef and stretched out my hip flexors every night correctly...and wow!....the pain finally went away!

I second this - the kalindra.com website is very good. SI joint dysfunction is certainly a very confusing and controversial area, but DonTigny ( who has written quite a bit on that website) and his techniques have been the most helpful in my practice. I've spoken/emailed him a few times, and went through a cont. ed course that he taught back in 2003. He's the one clinician who has really taken the time to immerse himself in the anatomy/biomechanics and clinical research regarding the sacroiliac joint. He's very humble guy as well; he's semi-retired from clinical practice at this point and basically has spent the majority of his career in Havre, Montana studying and treating SI disorders.

I have it too. I have found that this one requires a chiropractor. Never was a fan of them, but for this I have found help. If I could just get my wife to learn how to do this quick pop of the hip, I wouldn't have to waste the time or money to go to the chiroproctor. It's like paying someone to pop a knuckle that you can't pop. Stretching helps quite a bit, but when I am hitting high milage, I have to really keep an eye on this.

If you have SI joint dysfunction can you correct it forever? or do you have to have it "popped" into place every week, month? what about the elliptical and bike, does that aggravate it more? I am thinking of cross training since running is so damn painful. please help my si joint before I rip it out of my body! thank you.

hello, anyone???