Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection
The Sacroiliac Joint (SI) is where the spine and the hip bone meet. A steroid injection is performed to make the diagnosis and relieve pain caused by sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or arthritis in the sacroiliac joint (sacroiliitis). The pain is usually in the lower back and the buttocks area, though it might radiate to your posterior and anterior thigh, and rarely to areas below the knees.
Reasons for Sacroiliac-Joint Steroid Injections
A sacroiliac-joint steroid injection is used to confirm a diagnosis of sacroiliac-joint dysfunction. If the injection provides pain relief, it establishes the joint as the pain’s source, and, at the same time, acts as a treatment. Corticosteroids, along with a local anesthetic and saline solution, are injected directly into the sacroiliac joint, reducing swelling and pain for, possibly, several months.
As with other spinal blocks, a sacroiliac-joint injection can be repeated up to 3 times a year. Spinal injections only provide temporary relief from pain; they are not a cure. For that, surgery may be necessary.
Risks of Sacroiliac-Joint Steroid Injections
Post-injection, a diabetic patient may have temporary spike in blood sugar levels, and a patient with bipolar disorder may have a manic episode, making careful monitoring essential in these instances.
Additional Resources
The goal of the procedure is to decrease your pain and improve function to facilitate participation in physical therapy to improve your condition. How much relief and for how long varies among patients depending on other medical conditions and how long the problem has occurred.
Yes, SI joint injections are very safe, but as with any other medical procedure, it has risks. Risks with this block are very rare, but serious complications such as infection, allergy reaction, and nerve damage might happen.
First the skin will be cleaned with a special solution, which may feel cold. Then your skin will be numbed with a local anesthetic. This may induce a stinging and burning sensation. During the block, 1 small needle is placed and advanced to the SI joint. Since the skin is numb from the local anesthesia, you might feel mild discomfort or pressure. If you feel pain, let the staff know. The time required to do the procedure varies from patient to patient, but it will usually take 10-15 minutes.
As soon as possible. The staff in the clinic will provide you with care instructions after the injection. Please follow them. We prefer you go back to your normal activities as soon as the next day. It is very important to keep your body active.
Yes, but as mentioned before, complications may occur, as well as side effects from the steroids. Rare but serious complications can occur, such as nerve damage, infection, and bleeding. Our staff will discuss in detail the risks and benefits before scheduling this injection.
Schedule an evaluation. There are other therapies that we can use to manage your pain. Using different methods to treat your pain is the most successful way to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life. Other strategies to treat your pain include exercise, relaxation, and changing negative thought patterns that can help you cope with your pain.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you have a severe allergic reaction to local anesthetics or steroids.
• If you develop fever or any infection.
• A fever
• Pain that is more severe than prior to the injection
• Increased back pain or back stiffness
Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911 if you develop any new numbness, weakness, and/or paralysis in your arms or legs or lose control of your bladder or bowels.