Low back and SI Joint Pain

by Jamie
(USA)

While I was in physical therapy, end of last year, my therapist told me that she thought my coccyx and sacrum were straightening out making my lower back straigthen out, hips unaligned. What does that mean? What is that called?

A pain management tech told me that I also have facet syndrome, I guess I asked him the right question because everyone else has been telling me that my xray's and mri scan from last year of my lumbar spine are normal,(still waiting on my results from a recent mri of my lumbar spine and pelvis).
I have been in physical therapy and failed numerous times, and I've seen a chiropractor in AK who told me to, "Just cancel all the appts made and not go back." Since adjustments only helped for less then a day. I will be getting RA testing in the next few days.
But other then being told I have facet syndrome, per se failing: P/T, chiropratic care, and massage therapy, I am not getting any real answers.
I do know that I have a lumberized S1, shooting pains down legs, sometimes numbness and "falling asleep" in my legs (more then right side then the left), sudden sharp intense pain in my right SI joint/hip area that causes me to fall while standing, sometimes if the pain is really bad I can't walk unless assisted (after the pain level has decreased), if I stand my right shoulder is lower then my left and my hips are not aligned, when I sit I can feel I am sitting on my tailbone. I am in pain managment, orthopedic care (recently), and seeing my PCM regularly. Reading before, I was in physical therapy. Had phsyical therapy off and on since 1999. And seen a chiropractor last year. So I am getting help, just not answers or a diagnosis (...yet).

Hello Jamie,
Thank you for your question. There is I'm afraid no easy answer.
Sacral anomalies can be the devil, and often in such cases various different chiropractic treatments need to be tested. One person reacts well to manipulation on one side only, another not at all to manipulation. One to Thompson drops, another to activator treatment, or perhaps McManus traction. Each case has to be treated on its merits. So, what's needed is a thinking chiropractor, and a patient patient. I treated just such a case this morning. The lady in question is vastly better than when she first consulted me a year ago, but a small wrong movement, stepped backwards over a box, has set it off again.

What always helps is a set of gentle back exercises, sensibly done. With a facet syndrome there may be pain with a pelvic tilt, on extension, so it needs to be gently and carefully done.

The fact that chiropractic has helped for a day is encouraging, but obviously more needs to be done. A lift in your shoe, on the short leg side may be vital and sometimes can be the solution to years of pain. Type "leg length inequality" into the search this site facillity at C-H.

At the end of the day, if no treatment helps, then you have to think of helping yourself. Go for a walk every day, perhaps start swimming regularly, lose weight if that's necessary, do the back exercises very faithfully (see "lower back exercises" at C-H), avoid things that you know aggravate your back... try and avoid chronic medication.

Perhaps try a different chiropractor who uses different techniques. I wish I could be more helpful but clearly yours is a tough case. The kind of challenge I enjoy, but you don't live on my doorstep!

I'm afraid I haven't a clue what straightening out of your coccyx and sacrum means. Gobble-dy-gook.

Good luck, and keep in contact.

Dr B