An SI joint injection is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat pain originating from the sacroiliac (SI) joint, located where the spine connects to the pelvis. This joint can become inflamed due to injury, arthritis, pregnancy, or repetitive stress, leading to lower back, buttock, or leg pain. An SI joint injection helps confirm whether the joint is the source of pain and delivers anti-inflammatory medication to the affected area for direct relief.
For this procedure, you will be positioned on your stomach, and the area over your lower back will be cleaned and sterilized. Local anesthetic is applied to numb the injection site. Once the area is numb, your physician uses fluoroscopic guidance to insert a thin needle into the SI joint with precision. Once the needle is confirmed to be in the correct position, a combination of anesthetic and corticosteroid medication is slowly injected into the joint space.
The anesthetic provides immediate but temporary relief, while the corticosteroid works over the following days to reduce inflammation and pain. After the injection, you’ll be monitored for a short period before being discharged. The entire procedure is typically very short – about 30 minutes – and is an outpatient procedure, allowing you to go home the same day.
Patients may experience relief within a few hours to a few days, and pain improvement can last from weeks to several months. In some cases, additional injections or other treatments may be necessary. As part of a comprehensive care plan, physical therapy is often recommended to help strengthen surrounding muscles and improve joint stability.
At New York Pain Medicine Associate in Hempstead, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, our team of experts specializes in precision-guided SI joint injections. We are committed to diagnosing the cause of your pain and providing targeted, minimally invasive treatment options. Contact us today to find out if an SI joint injection is the right solution to help you return to an active, pain-free life.