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A 30-year-old male asked:

Scaroilitis or sciatica? what's difference? had an x-ray & dr says it's sacroilitis, but i feel pain in my back, hips & it runs to knee, is it both?

4 doctor answers8 doctors weighed in
Dr. David Lundin
Neurosurgery 29 years experience
Big difference : Sciatica refers to pain down your leg, most commonly associated with a herniated disk and may be helped with surgery if pt fails. Sacroilitis is pain in the joint connecting the sacral spine to your pelvis and does not radiate. Pt alone is the best treatment as surgical treatment is generally not indicated.
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Dr. Lauren Elson
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Similar symptoms: The symptoms for sacroiliac dysfunction often overlap with "sciatica" (the lay-persons term for irritation of a nerve root in the spine) and arthritis in the spine. Your specific history including factors that make the pain better and worse help to make the diagnosis. Physiatrists specialize in treating these symptoms. Initial treatment for all of these is physical therapy and anti-inflammatories.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. James Kufdakis
40 years experience
Skeletal Vs nerve: Sacroillitis means an inflammation of the sacoilliac joint. Sciatica implies that the sciatic nerve is inflammed or irritated thus the cause of the pain. It is possible to have both conditions concurrently.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Qamar Khan
Pain Management 19 years experience
Possibly: Typically sacroiliac pain is a constellation of symptoms and one aspect of the pain issue in this area involves the actual bone on bone interaction. The other aspects of this problem stems from the ligaments which attach the two bones on the posterior side and the joint capsule on the anterior side which all cause pain. Sciatica generally causes back and leg pain/numbness.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Sep 29, 2016

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