Dr. Eck received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Catholic University of America in Biomedical Engineering, followed by a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University. Following this he worked as a research engineer conducting spine biomechanics research. He then attended medical school at University of Health Sciences. He is board eligible in orthopaedic surgery.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
The sacroiliac (SI) joints are formed by the connection of the sacrum and the
right and left iliac bones. The sacrum is the triangular-shaped bone in the
lower portion of the spine, below the lumbar spine. While most of the bones
(vertebrae) of the spine are mobile, the sacrum is made up of five vertebrae
that are fused together and do not move. The iliac bones are the two large bones
that make up the pelvis. As a result, the SI joints connect the spine to the
pelvis. The sacrum and the iliac bones (ileum) are held together by a collection
of strong ligaments. There is relatively little motion at the SI joints. There
are normally less than 4 degrees of rotation and 2 mm of translation at these
joints. Most of the motion in the area of the pelvis occurs either at the hips
or the lumbar spine. These joints do need to support the entire weight of the
upper body when we are erect, which places a large amount of stress across them.
This can lead to wearing of the cartilage of the SI joints and arthritis.
There are many different terms for sacroiliac joint problems, including SI joint dysfunction, SI joint syndrome, SI joint strain, and SI joint inflammation. Each of these terms refers to a condition that causes pain in the SI joints from a variety of
causes.
What are the causes of sacroiliac joint dysfunction?
As with most other joints in the body, the SI joints have a cartilage layer
covering the bone. The cartilage allows for some movement and acts as a shock
absorber between the bones. When this cartilage is damaged or worn away, the
bones begin to rub on each other, and
degenerative arthritis
(osteoarthritis) occurs. This is the
most common cause of SI joint dysfunction. Degenerative arthritis occurs
commonly in the SI joints, just like other weight-bearing joints of the body.
Another common cause of SI joint dysfunction is
pregnancy. During pregnancy,
hormones are released in the woman's body that allows ligaments to relax. This
prepares the body for childbirth. Relaxation of the ligaments holding the SI
joints together allows for increased motion in the joints and can lead to
increased stresses and abnormal wear. The additional weight and walking pattern
(altered gait) associated with pregnancy also places additional stress on the
SI joints.
Any condition that alters the normal walking pattern places increased stress on
the SI joints. This could include a leg length discrepancy (one leg longer than
the other), or pain in the hip,
knee, ankle, or foot. Patients with severe pain in the lower extremity often
develop problems with either the lower back (lumbar spine) or SI joints. In most
cases if the underlying problem is treated, the associated lumbar spine or SI
joint dysfunction will also improve.
There are many disorders that affect the joints of the body that can also
cause inflammation in the SI joints. These include gout, rheumatoid arthritis,
psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis. These are all various forms of arthritis
that can affect all joints. Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory arthritis that always affects the SI joints. It can lead to stiffness and severe pain in the SI joints. As the disease process continues, the SI joints fuse together and have no further motion. Once this occurs, there is no further pain associated with the SI joints.
The most common symptom of SI joint dysfunction is pain. Patients often experience or the back of the hips. Pain may also be present in the groin and thighs. In many cases, it can be difficult to determine the exact source of the pain. Your physician can perform specific tests to help isolate the source of the pain. The pain is typically worse with standing and walking and improved when lying down. Inflammation and arthritis in the SI joint can also cause stiffness and a burning sensation in the pelvis.
Gout is a condition that results from crystals of uric acid depositing in tissues of the body. Gout is a condition that can lead to abnormally elevated
There are many symptoms involved in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. The first early pregnancy symptom is typically a missed period, but others
There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of
cartilage in the joints. Also known as degenerative arthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes chronic inflammation of the spine. The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is genetically
Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain.
Fractures occur when bone cannot withstand the outside forces applied to the bone. Fractures can be open or closed. Types of fractures include: greenstick,
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days,
Steroids (short for corticosteroids) are synthetic drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your body produces naturally. Steroids work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the i"...
