Question
Due to my current financial situation, I  qualified for  the Outreach Clinic that  Palmer school of Chiropractics offers, after apx. 7 months of driving 2x a week, I now have SI joint issues and have stopped going there all together due to the  intern and doctor that just seem to be there for all the wrong reasons, unfortunately my desperation kept me going far to long.

  I have worked out my entire life from age 15 and am scared, disgusted and angry at how hard it is to find help, especially now that I cannot afford to pay. I have such a healthy body outside of my back injuries, which my doctor can attest to. I cannot sit and watch a body that I worked so hard on just deteriorate!

 PLEASE tell me  how can I help myself at home with this SI injury that is very painful on my R.side(2wks),where I also have a herniated disc protruding to the R., R. muscle that runs along spine has been in a state of chronic tightness (spasm) for years now and it is getting worse with this SI issue, not to mention my neck issues. Long story short, I have alot of things going on in my body, however, at this time, my SI on R. is making it hard to walk and today I woke up with the L. SI feeling irritated.  I have heard a popping noise for months(onL.), told  intern and doctor many times they did not seem concerned so, I figured it was no big deal, now I know it was most likely a sign something was going wrong.  

 My home foreclosed and packing is killing me, there is no one to help so I really have to find a way to fix this issue on my own. Still have  much I want to do in life besides getting  back on track, my car will be my home in 2 weeks, for a while, so it is urgent that I do everything possible to correct this so my mobile living situation, will not make it worse. I feel panicked, I cannot accept living without the old strong, flexible ME!  
  Sitting makes pain worse,standing creates pressure in R.leg
 Stretching my glutes (ankle over knee) seems to make it worse.
 Putting a small ball(ball therapy) under my pelvis, makes it worse
 Tip of Cocyxx feels badly bruised and I have lots of burning, pins and needle sensations in R.leg and both feet, assume, there are multiple nerves pinched(?).  I hope this makes sense, sorry for the book, this situation is really panicking me and my brain is terribly fogged.

Answer
Michelle,

SEVEN MONTHS in Palmer's Clinic with no relief?!  Shame on them!  First, understand that I don't have all of your medical information, so it is hard to make precise recommendations.   It really sounds to me like you have a lumbar disc problem and/or a lumbar instability problem, and likely not an SI joint problem.   It is also possible that you have adhesion at the sciatic nerve where it passes throught your buttock behind your hip bone.   Google this: "Prone Instability Test" and see if anyone ever did this test on you.   If not, have someone do it.  If it is positive, then you have to do basic core strengthening without stressing your spine:  You can see the basic exercises on: www.fixyourownback.com.  The basic stability series is: "Birddog," Side Bridge, and prone plank. I would avoid any ab' crunch exercise and just do the prone plank.  Some of these can also be seen on: www.coreessentials.biz.   With adhesion in the posterior hip/buttock or problems with the deep rotator muscles of the hip where the sciatic nerve traverses, you might do well getting some Graston Technique or Active myofascial release (or A.R.T.), though these require you to see a provider.  Check this stuff out and feel free to do a follow up response.

'Best,

Dr. G