Using certain strategies and sleeping positions for sacroiliitis or other causes ofsacroiliac (SI) joint paincan you help get the rest you need. You will likely, for example, find it more comfortable to sleep on your back versus your side. You may also find that some sex positions are more comfortable if you have SI pain.
There aretreatments for SI joint painsymptoms like exercise, physical therapy, medication, injection, and fusion surgery, but these strategies alone don’t always fix the problem long-term. You may need a combination of treatments, including some lifestyle adjustments, to manage SI joint pain.
This article goes over how to sleep with SI joint pain, including the best sacroiliitis sleeping positions to try. It also covers sex positions to try if you have SI joint pain.
What Does the SI Joint Do?
The anatomy and function of theSI joint are complex. The joint is made up of two pieces: theiliumand thesacrum. If these bones don’t fit together right, you could get a sprain and have pain.
There are a few key factors that ensure the bones fit together the way they should:
To make the fit more complex, the surfaces of both the ilium and the sacrum are irregular.
Along with bumps and grooves spread all over each, the entire SI joint changes type depending on the area. The same is true for the cushioning and/or binding material between the two joinings (articulating) surfaces.
For example, the bottom two-thirds of the joint is mobile, but the upper third is not.
The SI joint can be either hypermobile (which is related to spinal instability) or hypomobile (which may lead to movement compensations and stiffness).
If the balance between the bones of the SI joint gets disrupted, it can lead to dysfunction and pain.
How to Ease SI Joint Pain During Sleep and Sex
When SI joint pain keeps you up at night, there are a few lifestyle changes that may help. Here are a few tips for dealing with bedtime, sleep, and sex if you have sacroiliitis.
Sleeping
SI joint dysfunction tends to occur on one side of the body. You may find that it’s difficult to sleep because of the pain. There are a few ways you can help prevent or reduce pain while you’re in bed at night if you have SI joint pain.
Sex
You can also have SI joint pain during sex. Making a few adjustments to the positions you use (or trying new positions) can make it easier to have sex with sacroiliitis.
Sexual Positions and Modifications for Back Pain
Pelvic Floor Strengthening for SI Joint Pain
You may want to ask your provider about doing a pelvic floor strengthening program.Pelvic floor work can help you develop balance and stability through your hips, pelvis, and low back. It can also have benefits for your sex life.
Summary
SI joint pain can affect your quality of life in and out of the bedroom. It will help to try the best sex and sleeping positions for sacroiliitis and adapt them to your needs.
If you struggle to sleep at night or have comfortable sex, there are some lifestyle changes that can make it easier to manage your symptoms during these activities. Starting a pelvic floor program may also be beneficial for sacroiliitis.
Pelvic Floor Strengthening Exercises for Back Pain
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chuang CW, Hung SK, Pan PT, Kao MC.Diagnosis and interventional pain management options for sacroiliac joint pain.Ci Ji Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2019;31(4):207–210. Published 2019 Sep 16. doi:10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_54_19Weill Cornell Medical College.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction.Kiapour A, Joukar A, Elgafy H, Erbulut DU, Agarwal AK, Goel VK.Biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint: Anatomy, function, biomechanics, sexual dimorphism, and causes of pain.Int J Spine Surg. 2020;14(Suppl 1):3-13. Published 2020 Feb 10. doi:10.14444/6077Kiapour A, Joukar A, Elgafy H, Erbulut DU, Agarwal AK, Goel VK.Biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint: Anatomy, function, biomechanics, sexual dimorphism, and causes of pain.Int J Spine Surg. 2020;14(Suppl 1):3-13. doi:10.14444/6077Weill Cornell Medical College.Why is my sacroiliac joint pain worse at night?.Yoo WG.Effects of individual strengthening exercises for the stabilization muscles on the nutation torque of the sacroiliac joint in a sedentary worker with nonspecific sacroiliac joint pain.J Phys Ther Sci.2015;27(1):313-4. doi:10.1589/jpts.27.313Jonely H, Brismée JM, Desai MJ, Reoli R.Chronic sacroiliac joint and pelvic girdle dysfunction in a 35-year-old nulliparous woman successfully managed with multimodal and multidisciplinary approach.J Man Manip Ther. 2015;23(1):20-26. doi:10.1179/2042618614Y.0000000086
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chuang CW, Hung SK, Pan PT, Kao MC.Diagnosis and interventional pain management options for sacroiliac joint pain.Ci Ji Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2019;31(4):207–210. Published 2019 Sep 16. doi:10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_54_19Weill Cornell Medical College.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction.Kiapour A, Joukar A, Elgafy H, Erbulut DU, Agarwal AK, Goel VK.Biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint: Anatomy, function, biomechanics, sexual dimorphism, and causes of pain.Int J Spine Surg. 2020;14(Suppl 1):3-13. Published 2020 Feb 10. doi:10.14444/6077Kiapour A, Joukar A, Elgafy H, Erbulut DU, Agarwal AK, Goel VK.Biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint: Anatomy, function, biomechanics, sexual dimorphism, and causes of pain.Int J Spine Surg. 2020;14(Suppl 1):3-13. doi:10.14444/6077Weill Cornell Medical College.Why is my sacroiliac joint pain worse at night?.Yoo WG.Effects of individual strengthening exercises for the stabilization muscles on the nutation torque of the sacroiliac joint in a sedentary worker with nonspecific sacroiliac joint pain.J Phys Ther Sci.2015;27(1):313-4. doi:10.1589/jpts.27.313Jonely H, Brismée JM, Desai MJ, Reoli R.Chronic sacroiliac joint and pelvic girdle dysfunction in a 35-year-old nulliparous woman successfully managed with multimodal and multidisciplinary approach.J Man Manip Ther. 2015;23(1):20-26. doi:10.1179/2042618614Y.0000000086
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Chuang CW, Hung SK, Pan PT, Kao MC.Diagnosis and interventional pain management options for sacroiliac joint pain.Ci Ji Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2019;31(4):207–210. Published 2019 Sep 16. doi:10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_54_19Weill Cornell Medical College.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction.Kiapour A, Joukar A, Elgafy H, Erbulut DU, Agarwal AK, Goel VK.Biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint: Anatomy, function, biomechanics, sexual dimorphism, and causes of pain.Int J Spine Surg. 2020;14(Suppl 1):3-13. Published 2020 Feb 10. doi:10.14444/6077Kiapour A, Joukar A, Elgafy H, Erbulut DU, Agarwal AK, Goel VK.Biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint: Anatomy, function, biomechanics, sexual dimorphism, and causes of pain.Int J Spine Surg. 2020;14(Suppl 1):3-13. doi:10.14444/6077Weill Cornell Medical College.Why is my sacroiliac joint pain worse at night?.Yoo WG.Effects of individual strengthening exercises for the stabilization muscles on the nutation torque of the sacroiliac joint in a sedentary worker with nonspecific sacroiliac joint pain.J Phys Ther Sci.2015;27(1):313-4. doi:10.1589/jpts.27.313Jonely H, Brismée JM, Desai MJ, Reoli R.Chronic sacroiliac joint and pelvic girdle dysfunction in a 35-year-old nulliparous woman successfully managed with multimodal and multidisciplinary approach.J Man Manip Ther. 2015;23(1):20-26. doi:10.1179/2042618614Y.0000000086
Chuang CW, Hung SK, Pan PT, Kao MC.Diagnosis and interventional pain management options for sacroiliac joint pain.Ci Ji Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2019;31(4):207–210. Published 2019 Sep 16. doi:10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_54_19
Weill Cornell Medical College.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Kiapour A, Joukar A, Elgafy H, Erbulut DU, Agarwal AK, Goel VK.Biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint: Anatomy, function, biomechanics, sexual dimorphism, and causes of pain.Int J Spine Surg. 2020;14(Suppl 1):3-13. Published 2020 Feb 10. doi:10.14444/6077
Kiapour A, Joukar A, Elgafy H, Erbulut DU, Agarwal AK, Goel VK.Biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint: Anatomy, function, biomechanics, sexual dimorphism, and causes of pain.Int J Spine Surg. 2020;14(Suppl 1):3-13. doi:10.14444/6077
Weill Cornell Medical College.Why is my sacroiliac joint pain worse at night?.
Yoo WG.Effects of individual strengthening exercises for the stabilization muscles on the nutation torque of the sacroiliac joint in a sedentary worker with nonspecific sacroiliac joint pain.J Phys Ther Sci.2015;27(1):313-4. doi:10.1589/jpts.27.313
Jonely H, Brismée JM, Desai MJ, Reoli R.Chronic sacroiliac joint and pelvic girdle dysfunction in a 35-year-old nulliparous woman successfully managed with multimodal and multidisciplinary approach.J Man Manip Ther. 2015;23(1):20-26. doi:10.1179/2042618614Y.0000000086
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