Aleve or Advil (or Tylenol)

[NbyNW]

I don't really think to reach for painkillers when my SI is acting up. I save the ibuprofen for when I have really bad PMS.

I find ice/heat to be plenty potent for reducing inflammation and improving blood flow. Stretching, ongoing core strengthening/maintenance, massage all help. Also being aware of any alignment problems and correcting them during exercise or regular activities, like walking (this is where a PT can really help). General good posture, especially when sitting.

There are also some good self-massage techniques for lower back/glutes, you can use anything from a cheapo inflated rubber toy ball to specialized balls by Yamuna or Franklin, or if you want to really target specific trigger points, a tennis ball or lacross ball.

I also went to an osteopath for about two years, following a major injury. Things would go out of whack pretty easily, and he would gently move them back in place. Started going every 3 weeks or so and gradually tapered off as I got stronger, and one day he said he thought I was doing well enough that I didn't need to go back in on a regular basis, and he was right!

At various stages with my injury recovery, I've found muscle relaxants can help. Some have awful side effects, so it may take a bit of trial and error to find out which would work for you and still enable you to function. If my pain is really severe, I take Tizanidine, which my Dr. originally prescribed for my TMJ pain, but hey, it works all over.

In a pinch, red wine does the trick, too. In moderation, of course.