Sacroiliac Joint Injections

Sacroiliac joint injections provide a safe and minimally invasive treatment for lower back, buttock, and hip pain. At The Beloved Medicine Clinic, Pain and Spine, pain management specialists John Melek, MD, MSC, and Engy Melek, MD, RD, LD, use sacroiliac joint injections to relieve discomfort and restore mobility. To see if you can benefit from sacroiliac joint injections, make an appointment by calling the office in Dallas, Texas, or requesting an appointment online today. 

What are sacroiliac joint injections?

Sacroiliac joint injections help diagnose or treat lower back pain caused by sacroiliac joint-related issues. You have two sacroiliac joints. One is on the left side and one on the right side of your lower back. These joints connect your spine to your pelvis. 

Your sacroiliac joints act as shock absorbers, making it easier to stand, walk, and perform other physical activities. 

Why would someone need sacroiliac joint injections?

The Beloved Medicine Clinic, Pain and Spine team uses sacroiliac joint injections for two reasons:

Diagnose lower back pain

Sometimes, sacroiliac joint injections are used for diagnostic purposes. During a diagnostic injection, your provider injects a local anesthetic into one or both sacroiliac joints. If your lower back pain improves afterward, it suggests that the sacroiliac joints are contributing to your pain.

Treat lower back pain

If your provider confirms your lower back pain is due to a sacroiliac joint issue, they may administer a therapeutic injection. A therapeutic injection typically contains a local anesthetic and a steroid. Together, these medications ease pain and reduce inflammation.

What happens during a sacroiliac joint injection?

A sacroiliac joint injection is an outpatient procedure that takes 60 minutes or less.

If your provider at The Beloved Medicine Clinic, Pain and Spine determines you’re a candidate, they have you lie face down on an exam table. Then, they clean and sterilize the skin on your lower back and buttocks and administer a local anesthetic to numb the area.

Once the anesthetic sets in, your provider uses X-ray imaging to guide a needle to your sacroiliac joint. After positioning the needle, they inject a local anesthetic to block the pain you’re experiencing. They may also administer a steroid to reduce inflammation.

After administering the injection, your provider removes the needle and covers your skin with a bandage. Mild swelling and redness at the injection site are normal, but these symptoms should improve within 24 to 48 hours.

What happens after a sacroiliac joint injection?

After your sacroiliac joint injection, your provider watches you for about 30 minutes to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction. As soon as you’re cleared to go home, someone can pick you up.

Some people notice pain relief shortly after treatment, but it typically takes several days for the steroid to start working. 

To see if you can benefit from sacroiliac joint injections, make an appointment at The Beloved Medicine Clinic, Pain and Spine, by calling the office or requesting one online today.