Pain Research, Translated: Why Function Matters as Much as Pain Scores
A plain-English pain research explainer on why function, sleep, walking, activity, and quality of life matter alongside pain scores.
SI Joint Pain in New England: Why Sitting, Stairs, and Rolling in Bed Can Hurt
The SI joint is small, but it can be very persuasive
The sacroiliac joint sits where the spine meets the pelvis. When irritated, it can cause pain that feels like low back pain, hip pain, or buttock pain.
Patients across New England may notice pain with sitting, stairs, getting out of a car, standing on one leg, or rolling in bed. Those details can be useful clues.
Common SI joint clues
SI joint pain is often one-sided and located low near the dimples of the back, buttock, or side of the hip. It can overlap with spine and hip problems, so evaluation matters.
- Pain low on one side of the back
- Pain with stairs or transitions
- Discomfort rolling in bed
- Buttock or outer hip-area pain
- Pain after prolonged sitting or standing
Why it is often confused with other problems
The SI joint, lumbar spine, hip joint, muscles, and nerves all share the same neighborhood. Symptoms can overlap enough that guessing from location alone may be misleading.
How clinicians sort it out
Evaluation may include movement tests, palpation, neurologic exam, hip screening, imaging review, and sometimes diagnostic SI joint injection when appropriate.
Related PSG resources: Lower Back Pain, Sciatica, Request an Appointment.
Need help sorting out persistent pain? Pain Specialty Group evaluates spine, nerve, joint, and procedure-related pain concerns for patients across Newington, Newmarket, the Seacoast, Southern Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and the broader New England region. Request an appointment.
This article is educational and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Seek urgent medical care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, new weakness, fever, trauma, or bowel/bladder changes.
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