A sacroiliac joint (SI) injection is an image guided, minimally invasive method of targeted drug therapy which is performed to relieve low back/buttock pain. Steroid medication can reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis or joint dysfunction. This minimizes side effects when compared to oral medications and increases efficacy.
How is a sacroiliac joint injection performed?
Patient Positioning
The patient lies face down.
Tissue Anesthetized
A local anesthetic (typically lidocaine) is used to numb the skin and the tissues along the anticipated path of the needle.
Fluoroscopic Guidance
Using a fluoroscope for guidance (live x-ray guidance), the physician directs the needle toward the sacroiliac joint. A contrast solution is injected to assess for ideal location and safety. The physician uses the fluoroscope to confirm the correct location of the needle tip.
Steroids Injected
A steroid-anesthetics mix is injected into the sacroiliac joint, bathing the painful tissues with a potent anti-inflammatory medication.
End of Procedure
The needle is removed and a small bandage is applied to cover the tiny needle surface wound.
How long does it take for the sacroiliac joint injection to work?
Most people feel some benefit from the injection between 3-7 days however it can take up to two weeks before we see the full results.
Who performs a sacroiliac joint injection?
Sacroiliac joint injections are performed by one of the board certified interventionalists at Spine & Nerve Diagnostic Center (SNDC). Our interventionalists have performed thousands of these procedures.
Where are sacroiliac joint injections performed?
Sacroiliac joint injections are typically performed at our state of the art SNDC procedure suites.