Diagnose & Relieve Pain in The Sacroiliac Joint
The sacroiliac (SI) joints are located at the base of the spine and connect it to the pelvis. Inflammation in the SI joint is a common source of lower back pain. It can also cause pain in the buttocks, groin, and legs. Unfortunately, these symptoms are very common and can be caused by other things. SI joint dysfunction does not respond well to generalized pain treatments, so it is crucial that your doctor confirms this as the source of your pain in order to start an appropriate treatment plan.
SI joint injections can be used to both diagnose and treat SI joint dysfunction. If you are experiencing lower back pain, you should consider this as a possible treatment.
The SI Injection Procedure
The SI joints are very small, but they absorb a lot of shock and experience significant wear and tear as we age. An SI joint injection is almost always performed with fluoroscopy (x-ray) image guidance. This allows the doctor to view the Si joints as they guide the needle to it. It is of the utmost importance that the needle is in the appropriate place before the injection occurs, otherwise, your doctor might rule out SI joint dysfunction as the cause of your pain when the injection does not provide relief.
The solution injected into the SI joint is a combination of anesthetic and corticosteroid. This will reduce inflammation and provide pain relief for several months. The entire procedure lasts about 20 to 30 minutes, followed by a brief recovery time. Most patients experience pain relief after only one or two injections. It is never recommended that patients receive more than three injections in a six-month time frame.
Precision Pain Care and Rehabilitation has two convenient locations in Richmond Hill – Queens and New Hyde Park – Long Island. Call the Richmond Hill office at (718) 215-1888, or (516) 419-4480 for the Long Island office, to arrange an appointment with our Interventional Pain Management Specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Chacko.
