Sacroiliac Joint Pain in Delhi-NCR

Pain on one side of your lower back or buttock that gets worse when you sit for long, climb stairs or get out of bed can be easy to dismiss as a “muscle pull”. Sometimes, though, it comes from a small but hard-working joint at the base of your spine: the sacroiliac (SI) joint.

This page explains what SI joint pain is, how it is identified and which treatment options exist. It is written for patients and families in Delhi-NCR who want clear, honest information.

What Is Sacroiliac Joint Pain?

Sacroiliac joint pain is pain that arises from the joints connecting the base of your spine (the sacrum) to your pelvis (the iliac bones). You have one on each side. They absorb shock between your upper body and legs, so when one becomes irritated or inflamed it can cause pain in the lower back, buttock or hip.

The SI joints move only a few millimetres, but they carry much of your body’s load with every step, turn and sit-to-stand movement. Strong ligaments hold them steady.

Doctors also use the terms sacroiliac joint dysfunction and, when inflammation is the cause, sacroiliitis. Research suggests SI joint pain may account for roughly 15 to 30 percent of chronic low back pain. It is a common source of back pain, yet it is often overlooked.

In short: SI joint pain is a real, identifiable source of lower back and buttock pain, and it can be diagnosed and managed.

What Are the Symptoms of Sacroiliac Joint Pain?

The most common symptom is a dull or sharp ache on one side of the lower back, just below the belt line, often spreading to the buttock, hip, groin or thigh. It usually worsens with prolonged sitting, standing up from a chair, climbing stairs or turning over in bed.

Patients often describe:

• Pain on one side of the lower back or over the “dimple” area near the base of the spine
• Pain that spreads into the buttock, groin or back of the thigh, sometimes down toward the knee
• Stiffness or discomfort when getting up from a low seat, a car or a bed
• Pain when standing on one leg, or when putting on socks or shoes
• A feeling that the lower back or pelvis is “unstable” or “locked”
• Disturbed sleep because of difficulty finding a comfortable position

Pain is usually felt on one side, though both joints can be affected.

In short: One-sided pain below the belt line that eases when you move around, but flares when you sit too long or change position, is a pattern worth getting examined.

What Causes Sacroiliac Joint Pain?

SI joint pain can follow an injury, such as a fall onto the buttocks or a road accident. It can also build up gradually from wear and tear, pregnancy, inflammatory arthritis, uneven leg length or spinal conditions and surgery that change how the pelvis carries load.

Common causes include:

• Injury: a fall, a sudden twist, a heavy lifting strain or a road traffic accident
• Pregnancy and childbirth: weight gain, a shift in posture and hormone-related ligament loosening can stress the joints, which is why SI joint pain during pregnancy is common
• Arthritis: wear-and-tear arthritis, or inflammatory conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis that cause sacroiliitis
• Repetitive stress: long hours of sitting, driving, running or one-sided loading
• Changes elsewhere in the spine or pelvis: scoliosis, differences in leg length or previous lumbar spine surgery, which can place extra load on the SI joints
• Infection: rare, but possible

In many people, no single event is identified, and several small factors add up over time.

In short: Injury, pregnancy, arthritis and long-term mechanical stress are the usual triggers, and finding the likely cause helps shape the treatment plan.

Why Is SI Joint Pain Often Mistaken for Other Back Problems?

SI joint pain is often missed because it looks and feels like a slipped disc, sciatica, hip trouble or a facet joint problem. Scans such as X-rays and MRI frequently look normal, so diagnosis depends on a careful clinical examination.

Several conditions can cause pain in the same area, and a person can have more than one at the same time. Spine scans may also show age-related changes that are not actually the source of pain. That is why a specialist examination matters: the goal is to find which structure is generating your pain, not just what appears on a report.

In short: A normal scan does not rule out SI joint pain, and an abnormal scan does not always explain it. Clinical assessment is the key.

How Is Sacroiliac Joint Pain Diagnosed?

Diagnosis combines a detailed history, a physical examination with specific SI joint provocation tests and a review of your imaging. When the picture is still unclear, a guided diagnostic injection of local anaesthetic into the joint can confirm whether it is the source of pain.

A typical evaluation includes:

1. History: where the pain is, what worsens or relieves it, past injuries, pregnancies, surgeries and any inflammatory symptoms
2. Physical examination: observing walking and posture and pressing over the joint. Doctors also perform provocation manoeuvres, which are specific movements that stress the SI joint. When several of these tests reproduce your usual pain, the joint becomes a likely suspect.
3. Imaging: X-ray, MRI or CT, mainly to rule out other causes or look for arthritis or inflammation
4. Diagnostic joint injection: performed under imaging guidance. If the pain clearly eases after local anaesthetic is placed in the joint, it supports the diagnosis. This is widely regarded as the most reliable confirmation.

Blood tests may be advised if an inflammatory condition is suspected.

In short: Diagnosis relies on examination first. A guided diagnostic injection is used when a firm answer is needed.

When Should You See a Doctor for Sacroiliac Joint Pain?

See a pain specialist if lower back or buttock pain lasts more than a few weeks, keeps returning, disturbs your sleep or limits daily activities. Seek urgent medical care if back pain comes with new weakness in the legs, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin area, fever or unexplained weight loss.

Early assessment helps prevent months of trial-and-error with painkillers. It also allows other conditions that need prompt attention to be ruled out.

In short: Persistent one-sided back and buttock pain deserves a proper evaluation, and the warning signs above need urgent attention.

How Is Sacroiliac Joint Pain Treated?

Treatment is staged. It usually starts with medication, activity changes and physiotherapy. If pain continues, image-guided injections and radiofrequency procedures can target the joint or its nerves. The plan is personalised to the cause, severity and how you respond.

Step 1: Conservative care

• Short-term pain relief medicines, as prescribed by your doctor
• Physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles that support the pelvis and improve movement control
• Posture, sitting and lifting adjustments, and use of a pelvic support belt where suitable

Step 2: Image-guided SI joint injection
A sacroiliac joint block places medicine directly into or around the joint using X-ray (fluoroscopy) or ultrasound guidance. Besides confirming the diagnosis, a joint injection with local anaesthetic and a corticosteroid can reduce inflammation and give a window of relief during which rehabilitation becomes easier.

Step 3: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
If injections help but the relief wears off, radiofrequency ablation may be considered. It uses controlled heat to quiet the small nerves that carry pain signals from the joint. In people who respond, relief has been reported to last for several months, up to around a year in some studies. Individual results vary.

Step 4: Regenerative options
Treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are sometimes considered for selected patients, after a discussion of the current evidence, which is still evolving.

Each of these options has benefits, limitations and risks. Your doctor will discuss which are suitable for you before any procedure.

In short: Most people are treated step by step, and the right combination depends on your diagnosis rather than a single standard approach.

What Can You Do at Home to Ease SI Joint Pain?

Simple changes can reduce day-to-day strain on the SI joint: avoid sitting in one position for too long, keep your weight evenly balanced, sleep with a pillow between your knees and use warmth or cold packs for comfort. These measures support medical treatment but do not replace it.

• Break up sitting: stand and walk for a minute or two every 30 to 40 minutes, especially during long commutes or desk work
• Sit evenly: avoid crossing your legs or leaning to one side, and keep both feet flat on the floor
• Sleep smart: try lying on your back with a pillow under the knees, or on your side with a pillow between the knees
• Stand evenly: avoid resting your weight on one leg
• Use heat or cold: a warm compress or an ice pack wrapped in cloth for 15 to 20 minutes can ease discomfort
• Lift carefully: bend at the knees, keep the load close and avoid twisting

In short: Small daily adjustments can protect an irritated SI joint, but persistent pain should still be assessed by a specialist.

What Happens During a Consultation for SI Joint Pain?

At the first visit, the doctor listens to your story, examines your back, hips and pelvis, reviews your scans and reports and explains the likely source of your pain. You are told about the options available, their expected benefits and risks, and what the next step could be.

It helps to bring:

• Previous X-rays, MRI or CT scans, and blood reports
• A list of medicines and earlier treatments you have tried
• A note of when the pain started and what makes it better or worse

Not every patient needs a procedure. Some are advised to begin with physiotherapy and follow-up first.

In short: The first consultation is about understanding your pain and agreeing a plan that suits you, not a rush to a procedure.

Where Can You Get SI Joint Pain Treatment in Delhi-NCR?

Dr. Namrata Dabas, a pain management and regenerative medicine specialist, sees patients with SI joint pain and other chronic pain conditions at Manipal Hospitals centres across Delhi-NCR.

Patients can consult at the following centres:

• Dwarka, Delhi: consultation at Manipal Hospital, Dwarka
• Sonipat, Haryana: procedures at Manipal Jivisha Cancer Centre
• Gurugram, Haryana: consultation at Manipal Hospital, Palam Vihar

Patients also travel from Rohtak, Panipat, Karnal and other parts of Haryana and Delhi-NCR for evaluation and care.

In short: Consultations are available at three locations across Delhi-NCR, with procedures performed at the Sonipat centre.

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice. Treatment recommendations vary  from person to person and should always be based on an individual consultation and clinical evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.