The problem with getting properly diagnosed: SI strain
Robert Filice, M.D.

I just saw a 35 year old man who had low back pain for the past 6 years. Physical therapy had failed to help him at all. When he saw an orthopedist he specifically showed the doctor the location of his pain (over the right sacroiliac joint), and described the clicking and popping sensation that he frequently experienced in the same area. The doctor told him "there is nothing there"!!!

I mention this incident because this same patient later did some research and came to Caring Medical about 3 weeks ago at which time he received his first Prolotherapy treatment. Today on his second visit he reported that his pain and clicking were already 95% improved after that single treatment. The orthopedist he saw is no doubt a Board Certified specialist in bone and joint problems. Yet, from his answer to the patient, it is obvious that this man knows nothing about some things which he OUGHT to know about. Flying in the face of every day experience, he denied that sacroiliac joints ever experience any instability or abnormal movement, in the process denying the existence of ligament laxity.

He was basically saying
1. I know nothing about ligaments;
2. I know nothing about the SI joint;
3. There is no such thing as an unstable SI joint;
4. Ligaments are either totally normal or torn, and never just get "lax".
5. I don't believe in anything that sounds "chiropractic", like things moving out of place, and finally;
6. I only pay attention to things that I can operate on, and I can't operate on the SI joint.

Well, because of this specialist's determined ignorance, he did not help this patient, and he is not helping many other patients with SI dysfunction. A large proportion of the people with chronic low back pain who consult with him (the orthopedist's bread and butter, if you will) are actually suffering from SI dysfunction. If he operates on their lower back, he will not help them and there is a good chance he will make matters worse. If he just sloughs the patient off, he dooms them to continued suffering with pain.

This patient has now obtained almost complete relief from a serious and long standing problem after a single office treatment of Prolotherapy to his SI joint. He can pat himself on the back for NOT listening to and believing what the specialist had to say, having the courage to research and get comfortable with an alternative therapy like Prolotherapy, and for deciding to come to Caring Medical, where stories like this one are commonplace every day.

Without an accurate diagnosis, the chances of successful treatment are slim to none. If you suffer from any form of chronic musculoskeletal pain, remember that your orthopedist's diagnostic impression may be just plain wrong, and if it is, you will not obtain the relief that is possible with correct diagnosis and treatment. Always see a prolotherapist for another opinion before giving up, or having an inappropriate surgery.