Sacro Iliac Ligaments

[stellafmdm]

I have trouble with my SI ligaments but today is off the map! Yesterday I went for an easy walk locally, today my SI ligaments are really playing up! So much so that I'm mostly on the bed wearing my back support (from the hospital so made to measure!) I woke feeling mildly unwell and as soon as I moved the pain started and is not easing despite strong pain killers and the support. I wonder if I should increase the pred, currently 9mg, at least temporarily and if so by how much? Thanks for your help in anticipation.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

When it happens to me increasing oral pred by a mg or 2 doesn't usually make much difference. I head to the doctor - and I have had a few different approaches from the orthopods, the rheumy and the GP. All helped.

[stellafmdm in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMR pro, I was avoiding Dr because it takes ages to get an appointment at our practice, but I expect I should be telling myself that the sooner I contact them the sooner I get the appointment!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to stellafmdm]

That'll do for a start I do find that sitting bolt upright with a hot water bottle acoss the SI joints does help. It's getting to that position though ...

[stellafmdm in reply to PMRpro]

I'll try that with my heat pad when I go to bed if I can get the position!

Thanks! I have made a Physio appointment though, 2 weeks wait!!

[Blearyeyed]

Is your back support one that you are meant to use just in bed or through the day for exercise?

If not, do you have anything for exercise or everyday activity ?

What pain medication and exercises or heat / cold therapy have they given you?

Do you also take Magnesium and Omega 3 as well as prescribed Vitamin D and Calcium?

Increasing Pred straight away may mask the problem , and although it might give you some relief temporarily for the SI now , if it isn't properly assessed the issue may keep coming back and actually cause a flare which will mean you need to increase again.

If you are sure the pain that is giving you the most difficulty today is SI pain I think a trip to the GP ( or a word with your physio if you have one ) is what you need to do first.

They may be able to give you a change in pain medication and advice that will target the area properly , meaning no need to increase the steroid dose.

Or they may want to give you a short supervised increase in oral steroids or send you for injections.

Hiding the pain with Pred before seeing a Doctor may make it more difficult to assess and make the right medical decision for you .

Sorry , I think another trip to the GP and a physio referral if you don't have one might help the most in the long term , Pred might just be a quick fix.

If you don't have a set of exercises let me know , there are a few I use to maintain it that might help.

[stellafmdm in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thanks for that. I've made an appointment with the Physio (2 weeks! ) My back support is an 'all day' one from the hospital, and today I've definitely used it all day although I don't usually. I also have a smaller over the counter one that I normally use and not using it was the cause of the present problem! I forgot and just went out with nothing extra! I've got co-dydramol for pain killer and some codeine 30mg for emergency use. Yes I take Magnesium, calcium, Vit. D and Omega 3. I have not increased the Pred at the moment and am relying on the ordinary painkillers for now. I'll see what the Physio says and if necessary will make a GP appointment when I've seen the Physio. I'm avoiding a GP appointment in the first instance as I'm sure he will send me to Physio straight away and I can do that for myself!

The pain is much better for having worn the support all day! thanks for the offer of exercises but I have some somewhere in my computer if I can find them! I have both an ice pack and a heat pad but so far have not used either. If its not better tomorrow I will though!!! Many thanks for your help and advice, much appreciated!

[Blearyeyed in reply to stellafmdm]

Good luck with it you are certainly doing all you can at the moment .

Only extra advice is I find the ice works better for the groin area but using my back brace with my clay heat pad inside it as I walk around really helps reduce the amount of time I have the back and hip pain when the SI bites!!

You are right too , I've just had my back and shoulder support brace fitted and the difference you feel when you try and get away with not wearing it , even after just a few weeks with mine, is unbelievable .

You definitely have to get like an elephant and remember , don't forget ! with all these pains !!

[ralinn]

Try injections, chiropractor, PT, heat/cold and anti inflammatory

I'm in horrible pain most of the time but seems to be easing some. They get very inflammed

[ralinn]

Oh I forgot to mention TENS unit and acupuncture!