Four out of five people will suffer from back pain in their lifetime. For many its debilitating and impacts their quality of life. Their pain can go on for years without relief.One common cause of low back pain originates from the sacroiliac or SI joint. The SI joint is located in the pelvis and links the iliac bone (pelvis) to the sacrum (lowest part of the spine above the tailbone). These joint transfers weight and forces between your upper body and legs. It is an essential component for shock absorption to prevent impact forces during walking from reaching the spine.Sacroiliac joint disorders are commonly misdiagnosed in patients with low back pain due to the similarity of symptoms with other spinal conditions such as a herniated disc or sciatica. Pain generated from SI joint disorders occurs in varying degrees on one or both sides of the low back. The pain can also be felt in the groin, hip, thigh, buttocks, and down the back of the leg.Certain movements or positions can provoke pain in the SI joint. Many people experience pain when sitting and will shift their weight to the opposite side. Moving from a seated position to standing, twisting, climbing stairs, crossing legs, rolling over in bed, getting in/out of the car, and lifting may also cause pain.SI joint disorders affect both males and females, although they are more common in women. Many women experience low back pain during pregnancy due to hormonal changes, added weight, and compensatory changes in walking patterns. Postpartum the SI joints usually revert to their normal, stabilized position. For 20% of women, full tightening does not occur, and they develop varying degrees of chronic low back pain.Pain in the sacroiliac joints can also be caused by age related degenerative changes, trauma, previous lumbar fusion, degenerative sacroiliitis, or other conditions such as Ankylosing Spondylitis.Most people respond to conservative treatments including physical therapy, SI joint injections, chiropractic manipulations, or radiofrequency ablations. If conservative therapy fails to provide lasting relief, your doctor may consider surgical options including minimally invasive SI joint fusion.Editor's Note: This article was written by Dr. Paul Stanton, DO., with Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group CSOG. For more information, please call 719-781-6193.