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[psychdiva]

I somehow dislocated my sacroiliac joint. (For the blessedly uninitiated, this is where the rear arch of your pelvis meets up with your spine). I have absolutely no idea how I managed to do this. With any movement of my torso, I feel as if someone is kicking me in the lower back with a pointy-toed boot, and the knee on the opposite side hurts, sharply, when I walk. I can't raise my knee on the affected side, so my gait looks like a shuffle. Owwwwww. I started PT last week and had my second appointment this morning. The PT man does some Kama Sutra-like manipulations and then all the pain goes away...until about 30 minutes after the end of the appointment, when all of the pain returns. He gave me some stuff to do at home, and I'm being diligent about those exercises, but still, the pain is constant. It hurts when I sit (like now) and it hurts when I stand or lie down. I'm trying to be patient but, frankly, I'm scared. Has anyone been through an SI injury or misalignment? How long before you got some relief? Did the problem go away?

[bacardiandlime]

Yikes, that sounds hideous. I have lower back problems, but it's muscular.
All I can suggest is valium and painkillers.

[systeme_d_]

First, you need opiates.  Big time.

Second, ask your PT guy if he can hook you up with a TENS unit.  I googled it up, and use of a TENS is usually indicated for sacroiliac pain.

Dear SO could not function without the TENS.  Our insurance covered it, and we got it for a very small co-pay.

[psychdiva]

All I can suggest is valium and painkillers.

The physiatrist who diagnosed this prescribed lidocaine patches. They help some but are not nearly as fun as muscle relaxants.

[psychdiva]

Dear SO could not function without the TENS. 

Does your SO have SI pain?

Alas, opiates make me puke.

[high_energy_photons]

The TENS unit is great for dislocations.  I had an issue in another area, and it took months to actually stop hurting, even with the TENS and piles of Ibuprofen.  It took further months to get back to normal.  Dislocated joints (particularly ones that hold a little weight on them) can take a very long time to heal.  I doubt that is the answer you wanted, but the human body is an unfortunately weak, spongy thing.

[psychdiva]

Dislocated joints (particularly ones that hold a little weight on them) can take a very long time to heal.  I doubt that is the answer you wanted, but the human body is an unfortunately weak, spongy thing.

whimper

[llanfair]

Psychdiva, you have my most profound sympathy - while I've never dislocated the SI joint, I've inflamed it, and the SO is actually just getting over an inflamed one as I type.  I can't imagine having to deal with a dislocation there - ask about the TENS unit and take great care of yourself.

((((HUGS)))) - note that they're very careful ones

[psychdiva]

Oh my. So much for my plans to get in shape this summer...

[systeme_d_]

Dear SO could not function without the TENS. 

Does your SO have SI pain?

Alas, opiates make me puke.

No, SO's chronic back pain is elsewhere.  But the TENS is a life-saver.  
I strongly suggest you see your family doc, and get something better than lidocaine patches, like Zanaflex (muscle relaxer), as well as a painkiller.

[dept_geek]

Owie, PD, just owie.  My back issues are neurologic and structural (the disks they are a crumblin'). I used a TENS for a while, but like anything else, I got used to it. The opiates got me over the worst part. You might want to ask your PT dude about water exercises. With those, you are neither sitting nor standing, which takes the pressure off your hips. I have been doing them, I really notice a difference. But don't go in the water without supervision if you are taking opiates. Just in case.

But, alas, HEP is right. It takes time to heal. Don't push it.

[relationalista]

Psychdiva, this sounds ghastly. So sorry. Ouch.

Have you tried or thought about hydrotherapy? Doing some water-based movement might help as it relieves pressure on the SI area while it's happening, so no sitting or lying on your own body or holding up your own weight. I hope it helps.

On preview: what dept-geek has said.

[gennimom]

My sacroiliac was knocked out of whack when I was trying to train my horse to do a new movement. There isn't anything surgical that can be done for it, so it just takes time. TENS units work for a time (I had one) but your body will eventually adjust to it. Manipulation does help, but if the muscles around it have gotten adjusted to the new position, they tend to want to go back to that position after therapy or chiropractic treatment, hence the returning pain. It takes a while to get the muscles to realign themselves.
If you can find a really, REALLY good pain management specialist, who has more than one or two spots for injections in his repertoire, you might want to try that. In the long run, this was what helped me. My nerves just no longer recognized the pain. My newest pain is due to the joint between the sacrum and the last lumbar herniating (but which probably goes back to the original injury). Pain management is what you'll need for long term relief. Or at least that is what I've found.

[psychdiva]

If you can find a really, REALLY good pain management specialist, who has more than one or two spots for injections in his repertoire, you might want to try that.

.....

Pain management is what you'll need for long term relief. Or at least that is what I've found.

The physiatrist and PT dude say that because the SI problem is new (past 2-3 weeks), there's a good chance it will resolve completely. Does that sound likely?

[biomancer]

My SI joint is loose and goes out with some frequency.  I have a chiropractor who can knock it back in, and a few yoga poses for reminding the muscles where they're supposed to be.  Most of the time this works pretty well.  Right now the SI is out, but I can't do anything about it until my belly heals a little more, so I'm just dealing with the knifing pain in my backside.  Maybe in a day or two I will be able to reach the appropriate yoga position to un-stick the joint.  In the meantime, there is naproxen.