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A Case of the Tilted Pelvis

Dr. Stephen Graham • March 12, 2012

The other day one of our patients referred her friend—a grade school teacher—to our clinic. She told me she had moderate and sometimes severe left thigh and calf pain. She wasn’t sure how this got started, but for the last five months it bothers her when she makes any sudden movements and it has become unrelenting.

This all sounded a little weird to me because there was not a trauma to substantiate this pain, and normally if it comes from the spine, it has a different pain pattern. Initially, I thought maybe it was coming from her hip, but that also has a different pain pattern.

The only positive test that showed up was a test that confirmed a sacroiliac joint problem. Although I had not seen this type of problem show up with this pain diagram, I thought a stuck sacroiliac joint was a possibility.

I took a pelvic x-ray. There it was…..her pelvis was tilting over to the right side. It looked like the carnival cruise ship that had tilted over on its side last month. See her x-ray below. All that stress had caused the top outer part of the hip joint to almost be at bone on bone (see arrow). I measured her leg length difference, which amounted to 15/16 of an inch. Quite a difference! Look at the x-ray below.

At this point I am more concerned about the future of her hip joints. As of now hip joint deterioration symptoms are not showing. If something is not done right now to take stress off her hips she will in all likelihood, need a double hip replacement.

In order to do this I am going to put a 3/8 inch heal lift on the right to start taking pressure off those hip joints. I believe that when I do this and unjam her sacroiliac joint she will find relief in her leg pain.

Low Back Pain Workshop every Tuesday and Saturday.

Every Saturday morning at 8am, and Tuesday evening at 6:30PM, Dr. Graham conducts a one-hour seminar on posture and low back pain that is open to the general public. This is a public service so there is no charge.

The first half of the seminar Dr. Graham discusses how ultimately poor posture leads to a breakdown of the nervous system; the low back joints and discs; resulting in low back pain, sciatica and other degenerative conditions.

He also will discuss how bad posture is causing stress-related illnesses, including headaches, insomnia and ulcers.

The second half of the seminar, Dr. Graham will discuss such things such as the best pillows to use; stretches and exercises; and will even review a of couple case studies.

The last 10 minutes will be used for questions and answers.

Take advantage of Dr. Graham’s 20 plus years of experience, and come out for this free low back pain workshop.

Call 245-9999 and ask for Cristina to register you for this event.

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