Sacroiliac Joint Pain
SI Joint Injections for Low Back Pain
One of the ways we help relieve pain caused by inflammation in the low back and buttocks at Ahlgren Spine is with sacroiliac (SI) injections.
The sacrum is a bony structure located at the end of the spine. The two joints that connect the sacrum to the right and left iliac bones, or pelvis, are the sacroiliac joints. They can become inflamed and cause pain in the low back or buttocks, as well as sciatic pain that radiates down one or both legs.
An SI injection may be used to both diagnose and relieve sacroiliac pain. A local anesthetic and steroid medication is delivered directly to the sacroiliac joint. The anesthetic provides immediate but only temporary pain relief (for a few hours). The steroid medication, however, begins working within 24-48 hours and provides pain relief that lasts for several months.
Sacroiliac Joint Pain
Prior to the procedure, Dr. Bradley D. Ahlgren will examine you and inform you of the risks and benefits of the injection. You will then lie on your stomach on an X-ray table while the injection site is cleansed with an antiseptic soap and alcohol and then covered by sterile drapes.
Your skin will first be numbed with a local anesthetic. Using X-ray guidance to confirm proper placement, Dr. Ahlgren will advance a needle into the sacroiliac joint. The numbing medicine and steroid will then be injected into the joint and the needle will be removed.
Finally, the injection site will be washed, and a bandage will be applied. Following the procedure, you will be monitored for the next 20-30 minutes, after which you can resume your normal activities.
As with any procedure, there is a remote risk of bleeding, infection, or allergic reaction to the medications that are used and some short-term effects – such as temporary numbness or weakness in your legs – may occur. If so, you will need to remain at our clinic until it resolves, typically a few hours. Please note that the procedure cannot be performed if you have an active infection, cold, flu, fever, or high blood pressure, or if you are taking blood thinners. Please make sure Dr. Ahlgren is aware of these conditions.
Your pain may improve immediately following an SI injection thanks to the local anesthetic. When the numbing medicine wears off, however, your pain may return for the next few days until the steroid medication takes effect. In the interim, you can take your usual pain medication and apply an ice pack three or four times per day to alleviate any discomfort at the injection site.
Sacroiliac Injections in Rochester Hills, Bad Axe, and Lapeer, Michigan
For pain-relieving sacroiliac or other joint injections, contact Ahlgren Spine for an appointment by calling (248) 215-8080 or use our online request form.
