EDIT: I am 26 with no previous injuries and lived a pretty active lifestyle.
I’ve been dealing with SI joint issues and L5/S1 slippage since November 2025 after a CrossFit injury.
After a month of a nipping sensation, my first physio told me it was nothing serious and that I just wasn’t used to the movements, but after trying to push through for another month, I hit a breaking point during a set of squats. I ended up with debilitating pain and a fiery sensation shooting down my left glute and leg that left me unable to move for a night.
I eventually saw a second physio who actually diagnosed the SI joint dysfunction and the slipped discs, explaining that my tight sacrum was causing the vertebrae to slip and catch a nerve. I followed an 8 week rehab plan and felt much better, he was truly amazing and so helpful but I recently moved house and the stress of shifting furniture caused a total relapse.
For the last 6 weeks, I’ve been doing mat and reformer Pilates, which is very similar to my physio rehab exercises, and while I feel no pain during the classes and recover faster from "nipped" nerve feelings, I still feel stuck. I lifted something heavy yesterday and my back immediately flared up again. I’m wondering if I should just stay the course with Pilates or if it’s worth seeing a chiropractor to try and break this cycle?
I know back pain and nerve pain are relentless, I need to see light at the end of the tunnel. I'm an active person and I miss running, the gym and generally not worrying about my back so much.