Back pain can be frustrating, especially if the problem persists for years. Many people try quite a few things to relieve it including Pilates, Yoga, physical therapy, massage and chiropractic care, and often remain frustrated that either the problem has not improved, or the problem continues to return. There is much more to back pain than just your lower back, and unfortunately, not all back pain is the same. The idea that back pain is self-limiting when most back pain has a mechanical basis is irrational, and for many people who have back pain frustrating, since most healthcare providers have a poor understanding of why you are in pain and an even worse understanding of how to treat something they do not understand. One of the most common causes of back and leg pain is the sacroiliac joint. Recently, there was an article in the Huffington Post regarding sacroiliac pain. While I do not agree that we require an injection into the joint to figure it out, since the painful SI joint is actually a symptom of a problem with the way a person is walking and is reflective of their gait, the article does offer some good diagnostic ideas and some useful information regarding the condition. Most SI joint problems respond well to chiropractic management of the muscles, specific exercises to stabilize the core, and manipulation of the spine. Check the article out here Mysterious Back Pain and The Sacroiliac Joint 08/24/2016 03:30 pm Nabil Ebraheim, MD Chairman of Orthopaedics at the University of Toledo with a passion for education. Dr. Ebraheim has over 1 million views on YouTube per month! Low back pain is very common and often the sacroiliac joint is the source of that pain. However, pain originating from the SI joint is usually unappreciated, underdiagnosed, misunderstood and usually contributes to other sources such as in the hip and spine. Patients experiencing low back pain can spend months or even years in treatment without the correct diagnosis. Diagnostic injection of the sacroiliac joint is the only means to confirm the diagnosis. Pain from the hips, spine and SI joint can overlap and be associated. Patients can experience injuries associated with the spine and SI joint or the hip and SI joint. If the patient has a back sprain and it doesn't improve for several months, it is important to look at the SI joints. The SI joints are weight-bearing joints. These joints distribute the weight from the spine to the lower extremities through the hip joints. From the front, the sacroiliac joint is supported by the anterior sacroiliac ligaments. There are also strong muscles in the front of the sacroiliac joint. Important nerves of the thigh and leg pass in front of the SI joints. From the back, the SI joint has strong posterior sacroiliac ligaments. The sciatic nerve crosses underneath the piriformis muscle. All of this is covered by strong back and gluteal muscles. Read more