locked si?

[paulmr2]

hi im an inline skater (the ramp and sliding down rail kind) and for the last 8 months ive had lower back/pelvis pain. at first i saw a chiro who diagnosed it as a disc problem so he treated it for that for about 3 months then said test it out so i did, again the pain came back after i pushed it real hard. so then he treated it the same way for another 3 months with no improvement in pain, then he told me to get a ct scan which showed a minimal protrusion on l5/s1, and he told me the pain is coming from there but when i spoke to other people who had "bulging discs" they had completly different symptoms and they healed alot faster. so just before christmas i decided to see a physio who diagnosed it as locked right si joint and poor core stability, stating that the protrusion wasnt enough to cause pain. now i am doing these pelvic floor exercises to strengthen my pelvis area but im still gettin flare ups so it is frustrating me, although i do beleive it is SLOWLY working as the pain moves around alot it is hard to say. has anyone had similar problems and how long did it roughly take to get back to normal activity? i am also very happy with this physio, postive outlook.
cheers for any help guys.
paul

[expatient]

Locked SI is very common problem and very poorly understood. And many times they make that diagnosis to a wrong side.

And right treatment for it is to open that lock. Excercises don't solve the problem but with excercises you can treat the symptoms...

Chiropractors keep telling me that it is in their basic material to open those locks but as your story again tells it is not.

[angieliu]

Actually to be honest, I would try to go and see an osteopath, my faith in chiropractors has dwindled over the years and I have not been able to find a good one here in Australia. I get monthy back pain which flares around the sacro iliac joint and have found that after a few sessions I felt a lot better. I think that what also helped was being able to understand how to stretch out when you can feel your back muscles tensing.

Over the past two years my back has rarely flared up unless I have done something (like using too heavy weights) and have been able to manage it. What you also need is for someone to also to be able to get into the muscles around the SI to help stretch it out.

My osteo is also a yoga teacher and this combination has worked quite well. Magnesium has actually been of huge benefit for tense muscles too.

I hope things start to work out and maybe consider going to see an osteo to see if they can help with the manipulative therapy and try to unlock the muscles. The alternative is to find an physio who is trained in manipulative therapy.

[paulmr2]

well the progress is getting better SLOWLY, my physio seems positive that the joint is unlocking and is now concentrating on stabilizing the joint with the pelvic floor exercises so i can return to normal activities. its a long process but hopefully all goes well from now on in

[angieliu]

Hope all goes well otherwise I'd recommend that you go and see my osteo in Canberra who also teaches yoga and so he can help with some stretches to that when you can feel your muscles around the SI tighten you will know how to stretch them out.

Let us know how it all goes.

[paulmr2]

yeh thanks, is it cool if i grab the name of the osteo in canberra?? were u able to return to normal activities comfortably? i miss sport:(

[angieliu]

Hi Paul,

My Osteo's name is Craig Patrick. He's really good. I didn't have a locked si but have had lower back problems and after a couple of treatments things were going quite well. I think that it is also a matter of understanding how to manage strained muscles and to not over do things when it is tender.

Details are below. You can check out his website too.


http://www.softtissue.com.au/

Dr Craig Patrick
BClinSc/BOsteoSc - RMIT
GradCertAcup - RMIT
BSc - ANU address: 21 Neales Street
Kaleen ACT 2617 telephone: 6255 5702
mobile: 0410 116 195

[paulmr2]

thanks alot i think i will give him a call, hopefully having osteo and physio will speed up the recovery time in time for snowboard season WOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks again
paul

[angieliu]

See how you go with the osteo. Things take time so just remember that.