Low back, buttock, and pelvic pain can be both debilitating and embarrassing. This is made worse by the dismissive glances of your doctor. What are the Pelvic Ligaments? How are pelvic ligaments injured? What are pelvic ligaments injury symptoms? What treatment options exist? Let’s dig in.
What Are the Pelvic Ligaments?
The pelvis is a boney structure at the base of the lumbar spine. Its role is to transmit the weight and force from the upper body to the lower body. It is composed of four major bones: the right and left hip bones, sacrum, and coccyx. The sacrum is a large wedge-shaped bone at the base of the spine. The coccyx is your tailbone. Ligaments are thick bands of connective tissue that connect one bone to another. They provide important stability. The pelvis is held together by three principal ligaments (1).
Iliolumbar Ligament
It spans between the tip of the 4 and 5th transverse process of the spine to the waist bone (iliac crest). It functions to restrain movement in the lumbosacral and sacroiliac joints (2) In doing so, the iliolumbar ligament is a major stabilizer of the low back and sacroiliac joint (3)
Sacrospinous Ligament
It is a thin triangular ligament that stretches between the sacrum and boney outcropping on the ischium. It functions to prevent posterior rotation of the ilium. Stress to this ligament occurs most often when leaning forward or getting out of a chair.
Sacrotuberous Ligament
It stretches between the sacrum and the Sitz bone (ischial spine). It functions to prevent rotation of the ilium. The sacrotuberous ligament also contributes to the strength of the pelvis, prevents rotation of the ilium, and provides an attachment point for buttock and thigh muscles.
How Are Pelvic Ligaments Injured?
The pelvic ligaments are important stabilizers and transfer energy from the upper torso to the lower extremities. These forces can be significant. Because of this, the pelvic ligaments can be injured. Common causes of injury include direct trauma, heavy lifting, childbirth, and gynecologic and urologic surgeries. Patients may also have connective tissue disorders that affect the overall quality of the ligaments such as EDS. The ligaments can be stretched, partially torn, and completely torn.
What Are Pelvic Ligaments Injury Symptoms?
The anatomy in the low back and pelvis is complex. Loose, stretched, or torn pelvic ligaments can give rise to a large number of symptoms. Some can be embarrassing to discuss. The most common include:
Low back pain
Iliolumbar ligament syndrome with pain localized to either the right or left waist bone (iliac crest) (4)
Sacroiliac joint pain due to instability(5)
Buttock pain
Vaginal pain due to irritation of the pudendal nerve (6)
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Referred pain into the buttock, thigh, hamstring, and feet.
Pelvic floor and prostate pain
Treatment Options for Pelvic Ligament Injuries and Pain
Physical therapy is the initial treatment for ligament injuries. Treatments may include core and pelvic floor strengthening. Taping or bracing of the SI joints can be helpful. Ligament stability is poorly understood by most physicians and oftentimes missed. Ligament stability is critical and is part of the SANS approach utilized at the Centeno-Schultz Clinic. We have successfully treated pelvic ligaments injures through precise injections of both PRP and stem cells. We have applied our extensive knowledge of anatomy together with years of ultrasound and x-ray injections to perfect the injection techniques. An iliolumbar ligament injection under x-ray is illustrated in the picture to the right. The iliolumbar ligament is highlighted and extends from the tip of the 5th lumbar transverse process to the waist bone.
PRP is rich in growth factors that can increase blood flow and accelerate healing. Stem cells are natural powerhouses of healing. Ligament healing involves three phases. Phase one is the inflammatory phase. In Phase two repair cells are laying down new tissue. In phase three the disorganized collagen is reorganized into strong fibers. To better understand how ligaments respond to PRP and stem cells please watch the video below.
In Conclusion
The pelvis is a boney structure at the base of the lumbar spine. Ligaments connect one bone to another and provide important stability. The pelvis is held together by three principal ligaments: iliolumbar, sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments. These ligaments are important stabilizers. They also transfer significant energy from the torso to the lower extremities. As a result, they are susceptible to injury. Symptoms of pelvic ligament injuries can be significant and include pain in the low back, sacroiliac joint, buttock, vagina, pelvic floor, thigh, and prostate. Ligament injuries are poorly understood and oftentimes missed. Worse is when they are dismissed as psychological in nature. The Centeno-Schultz Clinic are experts in the evaluation and treatment of ligament injuries. Treatment options include PRP and stem cells were are effective, nonsurgical, and natural treatment options. If you have ongoing low back, buttock or pelvic pain that can not be explained schedule a telemedicine consultation with a board-certified, fellowship-trained physician. Act now and regain your passion and joy!
