Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections

For Sacroilic Joint Pain Management

Pain in the low back at times originates not from the spine but from the sacroiliac joint. The sacroiliac joint is the space which connects the spine to the pelvis. When the joint becomes painful, it can cause pain in its immediate region or it can refer pain into your groin, hip, abdomen, leg or buttock.

By injecting anesthetic (numbing) medicine into the joint, the amount of immediate pain relief you experience will help confirm or deny the joint as a source of your pain. Complete relief of pain means that it is highly likely that the sacroiliac is the source of your pain. If not, further diagnostic testing may be required.

In addition, time-release cortisone in the injection will reduce any inflammation, which in many instances can provide long-term pain relief.

Sacroiliac Joint injection Treatment

To properly introduce steroids and anesthetic medications into the region of the sacroiliac joint, live x-ray (fluoroscopy) is used during the procedure. The patient is first sedated in the operating room by the anesthesiologist, and with the patient lying on their abdomen, the back of the lumbar region is prepared with the sterilizing solution and sterile drapes. After locally anesthetizing the skin, a needle is passed to the appropriate position at the lower aspect of the sacroiliac joint. After this is accomplished, the combination of medication can be introduced into the sacroiliac joint.

Risks

The risks from sacroiliac joint injections are low. Risks include bleeding and infection in and around the nerves, inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, and elevation of blood sugars from the steroids.