Sacroiliac Joint Injections

There’s a good chance that if you’re suffering from lower back pain that the sacroiliac joints might be to blame. Located at the base of the spine, these joints carry a lot of our body’s weight, so have the opportunity for pain associated with both trauma and wear and tear. A great treatment option for sacroiliac joint pain is sacroiliac joint injections, and the California Pain Consultants team in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, Chula Vista areas are experts at providing these injections and helping their patients get out of pain. 

What is Sacroiliac Joint Pain?

Sacroiliac joint injections are the direct delivery of medication into the sacroiliac joint(s) to relieve feelings of pain. There are two sacroiliac joints, and sit on the left and right side of where the lower spine and pelvis meet. Sacroiliitis generally causes pain and stiffness in the buttocks or lower back, with the pain traveling down one or both legs. A major weight-bearing joint, the sacroiliac joint supports weight from the upper body that is transferred into the pelvis, hips and legs. Like other joints in the body, the sacroiliac joint is inundated by nerve endings and spinal nerve roots, as well as surrounding muscles, tendons and ligaments. So not only is there a chance for skeletal wear and tear, there is also the possibility of nerve irritation and inflammation that can lead to feelings of pain in the sacroiliac joint in the lower back.

Pain is generally felt when ligaments in the pelvic area become too tight or too loose. This can occur from:

• Traumatic injury like a car accident or slip and fall
• Pregnancy and subsequent childbirth
• Osteoarthritis
• hip or spine surgery
• Patients who have an abnormal gait or uneven wear or pelvic imbalance (i.e. one leg shorter than the other) can also aggravate the sacroiliac joint and lead to pain. 
• Infection
• Tumors
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Demographics (older age, women with low body mass index

Most patients report pain sensations that worsens when sedentary, like sitting for long periods of time, and can lessen with exercise and stretching. These feelings of pain can include a numbness, tingling or feeling of weakness in the leg, or sharp, shooting pain that can spread across the hips and down the legs. Some patients even experience sciatic pain. 

What are Sacroiliac Joint Pain Injections?

The sacroiliac joint injection procedure involves injecting a mixture of local anesthetic and/or corticosteroid medication directly into the sacroiliac joint, which is where the provider believes the source of pain is originating, based on the patient’s symptoms and feedback. These injections are used for two main reasons: as a diagnostic tool and to provide treatment. To confirm that the sacroiliac joint is the location of pain, a provider will inject an anesthetic treatment into the joint. If pain relief is experienced, then it’s a strong indicator that this joint is the source of pain. The injection itself as a recommended treatment method, which includes an anesthetic and possibly a corticosteroid, is to provide pain relief, which is always the goal. When used as a treatment method, patients can experience pain relief, are able to further their physical therapy goals, as well as improve their quality of life and mobility. 

How Do Sacroiliac Joint Injections Help Relieve Pain?

The combination of two medications, including a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid, into the joint at the location of the inflamed nerves helps to both immediately relieve pain and also reduce inflammation. Not only does it affect the targeted nerves, it also spreads throughout the joint, reducing inflammation and irritation on a greater scale. 

Most pain management specialists use sacroiliac joint injections as part of a comprehensive treatment plan with a goal to help the patient enjoy complete mobility and proper function of his/her body. In addition to sacroiliac joint injections, some providers might also recommend: 

• Sacroiliac joint traumeel injections: a homeopathic natural anti-inflammatory medication that has very few side effects
• Medial and lateral branch blocks: the medial and lateral nerves run through the sacroiliac joint and injections help to block the feeling of pain from being sent to the brain. If these blocks successfully provide relief, the patient might be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation. 
• Radiofrequency ablation: a procedure that involves burning or ablating the nerve that is believed to cause pain, resulting in long-lasting pain relief
• Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) unit: a TENS unit works to replace the feeling of pain with a mild electrical current, which feels like a tingling or buzzing sensation. Small patches are placed on the skin above the location of pain and the patient is able to control how strong the current is as well as how long it lasts. 
• Spinal cord stimulation: a small electrode is place in the epidural space (below the skin) and delivers an electrical current that helps to reduce the feeling of pain 
• Chiropractic care: keeping the spine and sacroiliac joints properly aligned can help reduce pain
• Acupuncture: while research continues for the many benefits of acupuncture, it has proven helpful for relieving pain associated with the sacroiliac joints

What Does a Sacroiliac Joint Injection Involve? 

Sacroiliac joint injections are performed in your pain management specialist’s office. The patient will lie on their stomach and the provider will use fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance to insert a thin needle into the sacroiliac joint and deliver the medication. The entire procedure takes about 15 minutes but the process could take up to an hour including the post-procedure observation portion. Most patients experience sacroiliac joint pain relief that lasts for up to a month. 

Potential side effects could include pain at the injection site, numbness or weakness in the legs, or temporary increased lower back pain. While serious complications are rare, they include nerve damage, infection, poor reaction to the medication, and bleeding or bruising at the injection site. 

Sacroiliac joint injections are a safe and effective pain management technique for helping patients who are dealing with chronic low back pain and sacroiliac joint pain find relief. Additionally, it gives patients the opportunity to practice other therapies, such as stretching and physical therapy, pain free. If you believe that sacroiliac joint injections can help you, please reach out to the California Pain Consultants team in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, Chula Vista areas and schedule an appointment today.