Sacroiliac Pain Referring To Front - Lower Abdomen/pelvis?

[cristiana]

Hi everyone

 

Has anyone had sacroiliac pain (I gather SI problems are quite common in celiacs) that has referred to the front of the body?  I have inflammation in that left joint  but have had pain in my left groin and also, a weird sort of itch/soreness kind of midway between my left hip and my tummy button that never troubles me at night but does seem to be brought on by movement in the day.  Occasionally the pain is also in my hip and the joint feels on fire (worse if I have been on a long walk on uneven ground).  I have had a scan and they ruled out women's issues.   So what is left is either I have a problem with the intestines or SI trouble.  My chiropractor thinks that it is muscular skeletal and it is my SI joint.  Certainly, if I press down on the affected area it seems to wrap round to the joint.  Has anyone else had this problem?  I don't know whether to bring an appointment forward with my gastro consultant but I think my chiropractor might be right, as everything in the bathroom department seems to be OK!

 

Many thanks.

 

[GF Lover]

Hi everyone

 

Has anyone had sacroiliac pain (I gather SI problems are quite common in celiacs) that has referred to the front of the body?  I have inflammation in that left joint  but have had pain in my left groin and also, a weird sort of itch/soreness kind of midway between my left hip and my tummy button that never troubles me at night but does seem to be brought on by movement in the day.  Occasionally the pain is also in my hip and the joint feels on fire (worse if I have been on a long walk on uneven ground).  I have had a scan and they ruled out women's issues.   So what is left is either I have a problem with the intestines or SI trouble.  My chiropractor thinks that it is muscular skeletal and it is my SI joint.  Certainly, if I press down on the affected area it seems to wrap round to the joint.  Has anyone else had this problem?  I don't know whether to bring an appointment forward with my gastro consultant but I think my chiropractor might be right, as everything in the bathroom department seems to be OK!

 

Many thanks.

Hi Cristiana,

 

There is a muscle called the peri-formis, it wraps from the SI in the low middle of the back around to the hips (you can tell if it's this muscle by pressing at the top portion of your butt).  This muscle will typically become inflamed with Sacroiliitis.  This can also effect the bursa sacks in the hips and is called bursitis.  It all boils down to inflammation in the body.  

 

I don't recall your history ie: celiac?, being tested?.  I can tell you I had all three of those and more going on before going gluten-free.  All three of those issues and more inflammation problems successfully resolved after healing started.  To manage pain from the SI, Peri-Formis and Bursa I had many, many cortisone shots in my back and hips.

 

I have in the past also looked to Chiropractors for help with pain but in all honesty, this is an inflammation problem.  When one of my AI Diseases flares, inflammation goes crazy.  I also took anti-inflammatories for quite some time but I worried about liver issues with that.  Baths, hot and cold packs are a couple things that can help for short term relief.  Otherwise, getting the inflammation controlled at the sourse is the answer.

 

Good Luck to you.

 

Colleen

[cristiana]

Thanks Colleen - I'm sorry, I need to sort out a signature.  I just tried but couldn't find out how.  Anyway, I have been gluten-free for a year since May 2013, I was diagnosed by biopsy and blood test a year ago - readings were through the roof.   Since diagnosis I have had all sorts of weird and wonderful symptoms but this sacroiliac pain predates diagnosis.   Prior to diagnosis it flared up from time to time, normally because of carrying heavy loads (even too-big a handbag!)  At first it was very much the piriformis and bursa sacs area that was painful but now this added pain at the front, too.  The referred pain charts on line say that it can come to the front although I am not at all sure why that would be.  

 

Inflammation - I think I need to really try to sort this out.  I am quite sure I am not being glutened but I must admit to needing to try a more whole-food approach to my diet.  I do have a sweet tooth so maybe if I get rid of all the sugar from my diet that might help.  Does sugar cause inflammation?  I am sure I read that it did.

 

Thanks so much for your help.   

[GF Lover]

Thanks Colleen - I'm sorry, I need to sort out a signature.  I just tried but couldn't find out how.  Anyway, I have been gluten-free for a year since May 2013, I was diagnosed by biopsy and blood test a year ago - readings were through the roof.   Since diagnosis I have had all sorts of weird and wonderful symptoms but this sacroiliac pain predates diagnosis.   Prior to diagnosis it flared up from time to time, normally because of carrying heavy loads (even too-big a handbag!)  At first it was very much the piriformis and bursa sacs area that was painful but now this added pain at the front, too.  The referred pain charts on line say that it can come to the front although I am not at all sure why that would be.  

 

Inflammation - I think I need to really try to sort this out.  I am quite sure I am not being glutened but I must admit to needing to try a more whole-food approach to my diet.  I do have a sweet tooth so maybe if I get rid of all the sugar from my diet that might help.  Does sugar cause inflammation?  I am sure I read that it did.

 

Thanks so much for your help.   

I think I know what kind of pain your talking about.  To me it feels like my lower intestines are inflamed or something.  Like an ache that will spike with certain movements.  I still get this when I have an autoimmune flare.  It seems separate from the bursa and back stuff.  The back stuff can still act up with prolonged standing, walking and lifting.  

 

I would suggest looking into an anti-inflammatory diet and anti-inflammatory foods.  (Google those)  Do you have any other AI Diseases aside from Celiac?  There are many of them and any one of them can cause inflammatory reactions.  I have a few of them, Hypothyroidism, Sjogrens, Reynaulds, Vitiligo, Connective Tissue, Celiac and who knows what else...lol.  I know when one AI Disease Flares, one or all of the others can flare also.  It can get really difficult to figure out what is what expecially if you have other health concerns.  I also have Cardiovascular issues and Cancer, I'm Bi-Polar and....you get the picture, it's hard to sort through whats going on at any given time frame.   You may have to start looking at other health issues going on.

 

I can also tell you that at almost three years gluten-free, I still have slow improvement of some of the more serious health consequences of being un-diagnosed for 15-20 years.  

 

I also think going to a mostly whole foods diet can help.  Processed food is really un-healthy.  I do watch watch my sugar intake but don't obsess about it.  If you can rule out any gluten getting in then you'll know if something else is going on.  

 

It takes tons of patience and investigation to figure out what's going on with our bodies.  Health and Happiness are everything to me so I do my best to try and keep those two things at the forefront of everyday living.  

 

Keep moving forward, don't fall into the " I can't do this or eat that" mode.  Get into the " I can " mode.  A positive attitude can do wonders

 

Colleen

[cristiana]

Hi gluten-free Lover... Thank you for a very comprehensive reply.  Yes, that is how the pain feels as you describe in the first para.  It also sometimes feels as if there is a paperclip there (or a staple) that is trapping something!  I could almost believe it was trapped wind at times.  Other times it's like a bee sting.  Then it is an itch.

 

A doctor once told me without any tests that I have Raynauds and I wouldn't be surprised if I am getting Sjorgens as I do suffer from dry eyes and I more increasingly a dry mouth.    I have had a heap of blood tests over the last two years and the only thing that was ever suspect was I was anemic and also had slightly raised gamma globulins which normalised after going gluten-free.   I guess I will pursue the healthy wholefood diet as best I can by way of a test before Christmas and see what happens.  

 

When you say you have other AI disorders, what causes them to flare?  If it isn't gluten as I imagine you follow the diet very carefully, what else can cause a flare?

 

I am sorry - I'll stop asking questions now!  

[GF Lover]

Hi gluten-free Lover... Thank you for a very comprehensive reply.  Yes, that is how the pain feels as you describe in the first para.  It also sometimes feels as if there is a paperclip there (or a staple) that is trapping something!  I could almost believe it was trapped wind at times.  Other times it's like a bee sting.  Then it is an itch.

 

A doctor once told me without any tests that I have Raynauds and I wouldn't be surprised if I am getting Sjorgens as I do suffer from dry eyes and I more increasingly a dry mouth.    I have had a heap of blood tests over the last two years and the only thing that was ever suspect was I was anemic and also had slightly raised gamma globulins which normalised after going gluten-free.   I guess I will pursue the healthy wholefood diet as best I can by way of a test before Christmas and see what happens.  

 

When you say you have other AI disorders, what causes them to flare?  If it isn't gluten as I imagine you follow the diet very carefully, what else can cause a flare?

 

I am sorry - I'll stop asking questions now!  

Never stop asking questions

 

I can count on one hand the times I've been glutened so yes, I'm super careful and rarely eat out.  

 

For me, I get run down easily because I have a weak immune system..  I've always been one to gradually get sick but never reaching the height of the sickness.  I get all the symptoms but never full blown.  Stress can set it off, being very busy, strenuous work and a bug going around can all set it off.  Once I get run down my AI system flares.  It typically lasts for 3 weeks to a month.  I have had to learn how to adjust my lifestyle to avoid this but it still seems to happen all to often.  Any thing that stresses the immune system can cause it to flare up, gluten is only one aspect of it.  That's why it's so important to be as healthy as possible.  

 

These are my experiences and I continue to learn how my body behaves.  You will start to learn these things to.  

 

I know what you mean about the paperclip. my spot for that is in my left side between the top of my hip bone and belly button.  

 

For dry mouth I juse the Biotene Products including the mouth spray and I use lozenges also.  For the eyes, I use Refresh Products including the liquid gel drops and the gel at night.  I also use preservative free drops during the day.  

 

Do look into anti-infammatory foods.

 

Colleen

[cristiana]

gluten-free Lover - you have really cheered me up!  I have the paper clip feeling in the exact same place!   So it is not just me!  

 

I will ask my gastro consultant when I next seem him what is there on the anatomical chart?!   Thing is yesterday I had an elasticated waist on and that is where the pain was, today a skirt that doesn't put pressure in the same place and the pain is really just back in my SI region.  Odd.

 

Thank you so much.  I will look into the anti-inflammatory diet and find all the things I like on it and eat them. Your previous advice about being positive about what I can eat will help no end.  Thanks so much!

 

x

[GF Lover]

Your very welcome Christiana.  Good luck