ISG Arthrosis

Definition

The ISG, also known as the sacroiliac joint or sacroiliac joint, is located on both sides of the pelvis and represents a connection between two bones, the ilium and the sacrum. ISG arthrosis is a degenerative wear and tear of the joint surface and articular cartilage, which can cause severe pain and restrictions in movement in the back and hip region.

Cause

Causes for the development of ISG-arthrosis can be different factors. In most cases, ISG arthrosis develops as a result of incorrect loading of the joint between the sacrum and ilium. The ISG is involved in almost all movements of the pelvis.

Its function is to intercept and reduce the forces generated during movement and then to divide them between the lower and upper half of the body. Incorrect loading results in wear and tear of the joint cartilage. The formation of ISG osteoarthritis can cause the bones involved in the formation of the sacroiliac joint to deform, resulting in the development of pelvic misalignment.

Wearing heavy objects often leads to incorrect loading. Another cause for the development of ISG-arthrosis are old injuries in the area of the pelvis. These include old pelvic injuries resulting from a serious accident, which have led to destruction of the articular cartilage or even to malpositioning of the pelvis and are also responsible for incorrect loading.

Inflammations in the past in the ISG are another cause. Especially chronic inflammations can cause a remodelling of the joint structures. Overweight can also cause further strain on the ISG and the joint cartilage due to the enormous force applied. Also to be mentioned is the normal age-related degenerative wear of the joint surface, which can lead to the development of ISG arthrosis over the years.

Symptoms

In most cases, patients with ISG arthrosis report severe pain in the deep back area as well as hip pain and considerable restrictions in the movement sequence. These pains occur suddenly during movement and can radiate into the legs, similar to a slipped disc in the lumbar spine. In the early stages of ISG arthrosis, especially the severe back pain in the lower back initially occurs only under stress, such as long periods of standing or walking.

Often the pain is strongest during the morning hours, improves during the day and decreases in intensity in the evening. In the course of the day, pain can also occur during smaller movements, such as bending or even simple rotations of the upper body. Increased sitting can also cause severe pain in ISG osteoarthritis.

In order to escape the pain, a relieving posture is adopted in these cases to relieve the joint affected by the arthrosis. If ISG arthrosis has existed for a longer period of time, the pain also radiates into the lateral pelvic wall and the groin area. If the wear and tear of the joint surface and the articular cartilage is very advanced, a persistent chronic pain often develops, which is only made worse by stress.

The malposition of the pelvis, which is often associated with ISG arthrosis, can lead to further secondary diseases in the course of time. To counteract the malposition and curvature of the pelvis, a curvature of the spine can develop, which further increases the pain and the restriction of movement in the area of the back. Patients with ISG osteoarthritis are often severely restricted in their everyday life.

Very severe pain can be triggered by small, everyday movements alone. Often the arthrosis is caused by an inflammation of the joints. This is mainly caused by physical stimuli such as friction and blockages.

Typical signs of inflammation are joint effusions, redness, swelling, pain, overheating and thus limited joint function. These signs can also be seen externally in the case of a pronounced inflammation. This is referred to as “activated arthrosis“.

In contrast, silent arthrosis exists, in which no activation signs are recognizable. This stage of the disease is often symptom-free. Only sluggishness in movements and stiffness in the beginning of the movement can occur.