Interventional Procedures
Sacroiliac Joint Injections
Image-guided injection into the SI joint to confirm and treat one-sided low back and buttock pain.
Time in the office
The injection takes about 15 minutes under fluoroscopic guidance, with a total visit time of roughly 45 minutes including a brief recovery period before discharge.
When relief starts
Anesthetic relief is often felt within the first hour and helps confirm the diagnosis, while steroid benefit builds over the following days and can last from several weeks up to a few months.
What it is
The sacroiliac joint is deep and irregular, which is why blind injections frequently miss it. We place these injections under fluoroscopic guidance with contrast confirmation.
A combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroid is used, allowing the injection to both diagnose and treat.
What to expect, step by step
You lie face down; the skin over the joint is cleaned and numbed.
The needle is guided into the joint under live X-ray and contrast confirms position before medication is delivered.
The procedure typically takes 15 minutes.
Recovery
Return home the same day with a brief observation period.
Injection-site soreness for a day or two is common.
Avoid heavy lifting for 24 hours, then resume normal activity.
Typical results
Immediate anesthetic relief helps confirm the SI joint as the source.
Steroid benefit builds over several days and may last several months.
Patients with clear but short-lived relief may be candidates for sacral lateral branch radiofrequency ablation.
Risks and considerations
Serious complications are uncommon, but no procedure is risk-free and you deserve the honest version before you consent.
- Temporary soreness at the injection site for a day or two
- Small risk of bleeding, infection or an allergic reaction to the contrast dye
- Brief flare of pain before the steroid effect sets in
- Temporary numbness or heaviness in the buttock or leg if anesthetic tracks along a nearby nerve
- Diminishing returns with repeated steroid injections into the same joint
Common questions
Why is this injection done with imaging guidance?
Can this injection tell me if surgery is needed?
How is this different from a lumbar epidural?
What activities should I avoid afterward?
Conditions this treats
Sacroiliac Joint Injections is most often recommended for the conditions below, once the source of pain has been confirmed.
- SacroiliitisInflammation of the joint between the sacrum and pelvis, producing one-sided low back and buttock pain.
- Low Back InjuriesLumbar strain, disc and joint injuries from lifting, falls and repetitive load, with or without leg pain.
- Post Operative InjuriesPersistent pain after spine or joint surgery, including scar-related nerve irritation and adjacent-segment pain.
- ArthritisDegenerative and inflammatory joint disease of the spine, hips, knees and shoulders.
Related treatments
- Epidural Steroid InjectionsAnti-inflammatory medication delivered precisely around an irritated spinal nerve root to relieve radiating arm or leg pain.
- Facet Joint InjectionsSteroid and anesthetic placed inside an arthritic facet joint to confirm the pain source and calm inflammation.
- Medial Branch BlocksA precise diagnostic block of the small nerves carrying pain from a facet joint, used to plan longer-lasting treatment.
- Radiofrequency AblationRadio waves used to interrupt pain signals from confirmed facet or sacroiliac nerves, often giving relief for a year or more.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.