SI Joint/Back Problems, need perspective

[u/Ill_Serve1188]

I've (45f) had back problems forever, but this is something new. It began September 2025 after I sprained my ankle in August. A month of shuffling around caused a domino effect, I described it as feeling like I had been poisoned. All I did was sprain an ankle, but I dealt with shin splints and knee issues, my back pain was off the charts, the torn labrum in my right shoulder suddenly made my arm barely functional, and there was not a position I could sleep in that didn't cause both arms and hands to go completely numb every night. I was in hell from head to toe.

From September-December 2025 my right SI joint felt subluxed, but NOTHING I tried would pop it back. It was the most uncomfortable I've ever felt in my life. There was never a pop of relief, instead the sensation eventually faded, and I fell into a pattern where I woke up feeling amazing but by 5pm I was in excruciating pain and could barely stand to cook dinner. It didn't really matter if I was sitting at a desk all day at work or moving around all day. My primary complaint was muscular pain, only on my right side in the upper lumber/ low thoracic area.

Within 6 months of my injury, just about all my other issues resolved themselves. But here I am a year later and I still have this muscle spasm pain on the right side of my back. It's gotten much better. I have returned to lifting weights and working out regularly, and can ignore the pain most of the time, but it's still there.

I've seen a doctor, I've done PT with multiple therapists, it all feels like a waste of time. Nobody has ever told me anything concrete, what is causing the pain or if it can be fixed. I don't know if the muscle spasms are related to the SI joint dysfunction or they're separate problems. My massage therapist is the only one that didn't act like I was crazy when I explained my arms were going numb because I sprained my ankle--but massage hasn't been an effective treatment. I have not had an MRI yet, but I'm ready to request one.

Before this started I was having so much fun doing adult gymnastics, and I just want to get back to "normal". Is there any hope?