Sacroiliac Joint Injections

The space where the pelvis (iliac bone) links to the lowest part of your spine and above the tailbone (the sacrum) is call the sacroiliac (SI) joint. The sacroiliac joint is found in your pelvis and helps transfer weight between your body’s legs and upper body. It allows for movement and energy to be safely transferred between your legs and your torso. The SI joints distribute the weight of your body evenly across the pelvis, acting as a shock absorber. This also reduces the pressure on your spine.  

Any inflammation in the sacroiliac joint can cause lower back pain, buttock pain, groin pain, and leg pain. While these pain symptoms can be common for other pain-causing conditions, a trained medical professional will be able to determine the source of your symptoms. The spaces between the bones and the sacroiliac joints are filled with fluid that assist movement. They are also filled with nerve endings that send signals to the brain.  

When there is inflammation in the SI joints, pain signals are sent to the brain. This may be caused by sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a clinical term used to describe the several health conditions that lead to the joint dysfunction. An SI joint injection can help you find relief from the painful symptoms from sacroiliac joint dysfunction.  

A sacroiliac joint (SI) injection is an injection of local anesthetic and steroid medication administered in the sacroiliac joint. Using fluoroscopically guided needles, physicians can determine the most beneficial approach to administering the medication. The medication administered to the joint can provide relief from inflammation and reduce or stop the pain signals being sent to the brain.

How Do Sacroiliac Joint Injections Work

This injection can help reduce the pain symptoms felt in your sacroiliac joints. The steroid medication and anesthetic produce a numbing effect on the sacroiliac space, producing relief. The SI joint injection can be used to treat the pain in your lower back but also operate diagnostically to determine if the pain is coming from the SI region. SI joint injections can produce enough relief from your symptoms that you can return to a fully functioning life. They are not a permanent cure for the pain, but can significantly help any individual suffering from joint dysfunction symptoms.  

The procedure is performed in a sterile environment. You will be positioned according to the location of your pain. The injection site will be cleansed using betadine or alcohol. Your physician will anesthetize your skin using local anesthetic. A small needle with medication will deliver the anesthetic to the site of pain. You may experience pressure at the site. The process may take up to 15 minutes to administer. You may begin to notice immediate relief, but it may take a day or two for the medication to take full effect.  

The nerves, muscles, and tissue surround the affected area of the sacroiliac joint are bathed in the solution from the injection, reducing inflammation and pain. This allows patients to experience better mobility and help them return to a fully functioning life. Some patients may even benefit from the short term relief because it allows them to participate in physical therapy (another treatment method for sacroiliac joint dysfunction) for long term relief. 

What Conditions Do Sacroiliac Joint Injections Treat?

There are several contributing factors to pain in your sacroiliac joints. An SI joint injection can be recommended by a medical professional or a comprehensive pain management specialist, trained in determining the correct source of your symptoms.  

• Ankylosing spondylitis: A type of arthritis that causes inflammation, it affects the vertebrae and the joints of the spine. Primarily affects sacroiliac joints.  
• Injury: Physical trauma from falls, sports accidents, or even car accidents 
• Osteoarthritis: Years of wear and tear that can wear down cartilage and the fluid between the SI joints 
• Pregnancy: Pregnant women release the hormone Relaxin which makes the SI joints more elastic to allow for the birth of the baby, however this also contributes to the joints becoming less stable. This lack of stability can create painful symptoms.  
• Sacroiliitis: Joint dysfunction that results in pain symptoms in your lower back and buttocks 

Immediately after a joint injection, a patient may also experience a temporary increase in pain before the anesthetic is experienced. You will need to take precautions to not overexert yourself and injure the injection site. You will also be asked not to sit in any pools or tubs for 48 hours after the injection to prevent infection. The steroid medication may take 2-3 days to start having a full effect. Patients can use an ice pack applied to the area to alleviate any discomfort.