Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection

A sacroiliac joint steroid injection is performed to help relieve pain that is caused by arthritis in the sacroiliac joint. This joint is the area where the spine and hip bone meet; one can be found on each side of a person’s body. This connection absorbs many of the shocks that the body receives from everyday movements. Though it is sturdy, the structure is still sensitive to inflammation that can then lead to severe chronic pain (often called sacroiliac joint syndrome.) One can determine the cause of their chronic pain based off of where they feel it:

• Not Enough Movement – When someone is not moving enough and starts feeling pain from arthritis in the sacroiliac joint, the discomfort typically occurs on one side of the buttocks or lower back. While most symptoms stop above the knee, particularly severe cases can affect the foot. These sensations are often confused with sciatica symptoms.
• Too Much Movement – When arthritis pain occurs from too much movement, patients often feel discomfort in the lower back or hip. Instead of the pain traveling down the leg, it localizes around the groin.

The Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection Procedure

There are a few occasions that permit caudal steroid injections to be the suggested method of treatment. This is because this epidural injection is most likely to positively treat the specified back pain conditions of the patient. These conditions include:

• Herniated Discs
• Sciatic Nerve Pain
• Degenerative Spinal Stenosis
• Lumbar Radiculopathies

The Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection Procedure

Steroid medication from the procedure can help alleviate the swelling and inflammation within the sacroiliac joints. Before starting, a patient lays face down with a cushion under the stomach area to help arch the back. The physician will use a fluoroscope to find the sacroiliac joint that is causing the patient discomfort.

Once found, he will use local anesthesia to numb the area down to the tissue. With an anesthetized track developed, the doctor will inject a needle containing the steroid mixture that will soothe the inflamed joint. Once the joint is bathed, the doctor removes the needle and applies a small bandage to cover the wound.

Recovery from the Sacroiliac Joint Injection

After the injection, the patient must remain still for around a half-hour to confirm that there are no complication or side effects. The doctor will often ask the patient to perform activities that will provoke pain in order to measure pain levels. A recording of at least 75% improvement in feeling pain is marked as a positive response. If there are no side effects, the patient can go home.

At home, the patient will be asked to drink plenty of water to help expel the dye that was used for fluoroscopy. Intense activities like exercise will not be recommended, and a list of known symptoms after a sacroiliac joint injection that may require urgent medical attention will also be given to the patient. If you are looking for a pain clinic in New Jersey that can help address your chronic pain, Garden State Pain Center has several locations where you can learn about your treatment options. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.