Hip/Sacroiliac Pain

Hip Pain/Sacroiliac Pain

Your Hip Joints
A joint is where two bones meet and your hips have a few of them. One of them is a ball-and-socket joint where the head ("ball") of the thigh bone meets the acetabulum ("socket") of the hip. Another is the sacroiliac (SI) joint, formed where the sacrum and the ilium meet. And another is the symphysis pubis, where the pubic bones meet in the front (they separate a little during childbirth so the pelvic cavity can enlarge.) sacrum and coccyx; in front they form your pubic bones. Together all these bones make up your pelvis. A woman's pelvis is wider than a man's, has a larger inlet and is more curved—for delivering babies.

Lower Back, Buttock And Thigh Pain
Studies have implicated an unbalanced hip in most adults with low back pain. "Dysfunction in the hip joint may be a primary factor in the development of mechanical lower back pain" says one report. Another states: "On confronting a patient in severe pain of sciatic [leg pain] distribution the first thought should be "sacroiliac" not "disc".... [with] chiropractic manipulation... surgical treatment is forgotten.

Pelvic Organs And Your Hips
The nerves originating from the spinal column in the lower back and hips travel to the bladder, kidneys, prostate, vagina and pelvic organs, uterus and lower intestines. It is very important to ensure that the nerves to these organs are free of any irritation, compression or stress. In fact, for over a century chiropractors have noticed the intimate relationship between spinal health and hip, sacroiliac and leg problems.

When your hips are uneven, your legs become uneven; one appears longer than the other. More pressure is placed on the long leg when you walk: the knees, hips, ankle and feet on that side of your body may show pain and pressure. This is most noticeable when you lie down and is often used as a chiropractic test.

Pregnancy
Pregnant women make hormones to relax their joints for easier delivery of the baby. However, if their spines are not healthy, instability of the hip (and other) joints may be revealed and may make what should be a joyous time one of pain.

Chiropractic care is particularly helpful during and after pregnancy. Chiropractors have noticed that a properly aligned SI joint, hip and spine helps ensure a more comfortable pregnancy and a safer and easier delivery and post-partum recovery.

Children's Hip Problems
Since childhood is a very physical time full of falls, accidents, cuts, scrapes and occasional serious injuries, children should have their spines checked regularly, including their hips, their leg lengths and their SI or sacroiliac joints by a doctor of chiropractic to ensure they are free of subluxations. Chiropractors and body workers have often observed that a stressful birth can damage a child's spine and can cause problems in adult life if not corrected.

Conclusion
Chiropractic spinal checkups should be part of your family's healthcare regime. This is especially important for children since sacroiliac and lower back problems may have their origins in childhood. Pregnant women should definitely have a spinal exam since the stress of pregnancy and trauma of childbirth affect the hips and entire spinal column.

Why wait for a problem to arise? See your chiropractor for regular spinal exams.

Your hips are a masterpiece of engineering that chiropractic can keep balanced and in alignment.

References
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Bourne IHJ. Back pain—what can we offer? British Medical Journal. 1979;1:1085.
Hooper PD, Faye LJ. The hips as an overlooked cause of low back pain: a case report. Chiropractic Technique. 1994;6(1).
Bourdillon J, Day E. Spinal Manipulation. 4th Edition. Norwalk, CT/Los Altos, CA: Appleton and Lange, 1987;228-230.
Browning JE. Distractive manipulation protocols in treating the mechanically induced pelvic pain and organic dysfunction patient. Chiropractic Technique. 1995; 7(1):1-11.
Kirkady-Willis WH, Cassidy JD. Spinal manipulation in the treatment of low back pain. Canadian Family Physician. 1985;31:535-540.
Cassidy JD, Kirkady-Willis WH, McGregor M. Spinal manipulation for the treatment of chronic low back and leg pain: an observational study. In AA Buerger & PE Greenman (Eds.), Empirical Approaches to the Validation of Spinal Manipulation. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, 1985.