Sacroiliac Joint Injection

An SI injection may be right for you if you have chronic or radiating pain stemming from some type of injury or agitation in the sacroiliac joints. Injections are generally reserved for patients who have not achieved significant pain relief from more conservative treatment measures.

You will lie on an procedure table, the skin over your lower back/buttock will be well cleansed. Next, the physician will numb a small area of skin with numbing medicine(anesthetic) which stings for a few seconds. The physician will then use a fluoroscopy(live X-Ray)to direct a small needle to the joint. The physician will then inject several drops of contrast dye to confirm that the medication only goes into the joint. A small mixture of numbing medication and a steriod will then be injected. 

You may or may not obtain improvement in the first few hours after the injection, depending on if the sacroiliac joint is your main pain source. On Occasion, you may feel numb, slightly weak or have an odd feeling in your leg for a few hours after the injection. You may begin to notice an improvement in your pain 2-5 days after the injection. 

 As with any procedure involving a needle, there is a rare chance of infection, bleeding, allergic reaction and nerve damage. Complications are extremely rare. Talk with your provider if you have specific questions about the risk of your procedure.