The SI Joint.
SI joint pain can masquerade as lumbar spine pain or sciatica, so pinpointing it is half the work. Get the diagnosis right, and the treatment becomes clear.
Getting the diagnosis right
The sacroiliac joint sits where the spine meets the pelvis. When it's the pain source, it often feels low in the back or deep in the buttock, and it tends to worsen with transitions, prolonged standing, or single-leg loading. Because it overlaps with other low-back problems, careful examination and targeted diagnostic steps matter before any treatment is considered.
When fusion can help
Most SI joint pain is managed without surgery. When the joint has been carefully confirmed as the source, and symptoms remain limiting after well-run conservative care, a minimally invasive SI joint fusion can help selected patients. That includes some whose pain followed a prior lumbar fusion or pregnancy-related changes.