Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection
PAIN CONDITION
Living with constant lower back, hip or pelvic pain can feel overwhelming, especially when every aspect of your life is affected. Nearly 30% of back pain is due to your sacroiliac joints.[1] The left and right sacroiliac (SI) joints on either side of your spine are often the culprit for sharp or dull back pain.[2] They connect your spine to your pelvis. [3] The SI joints support the upper body and allow movements like walking. They also help you maintain balance and stability when you stand or lift things.[1]
If traditional treatments like rest, physical therapy, or medications haven’t helped, sacroiliac injections might offer the relief you’ve needed. Let’s explore how these steroid injections work, the conditions they treat, and why they’re a game-changer for many patients seeking a minimally invasive solution.
How Sacroiliac Joint Injections Work
SI joint injections (SIJI) are a targeted treatment to reduce inflammation and pain in the sacroiliac joints. They can also be used diagnostically to determine if one or both of your SI joints are causing pain.[3]
You may feel SI joint pain in your buttocks, thighs, groin or upper back, and it may feel better as you move throughout the day.[4] An anesthetic and corticosteroid are injected directly into the affected joint to ease pain and discomfort due to inflamed SI joints.[1] The anesthetic offers immediate pain relief, giving the steroid time to relieve inflammation and irritation in the joint. The needle is inserted using fluoroscopic (video X-ray) or CT guidance to ensure the medication is delivered directly to the joint.[1] The steroid can take up to seven days to start working and can be repeated when needed. The injection is an in-office procedure, and you’ll go home shortly afterward with minimal restrictions.
Conditions Treated with SIJIs
Sacroiliac joint injections relieve pain in your lower back, legs, hip, buttocks or groin.
SI joint injections are a practical option for managing pain caused by:
- Sacroiliitis [5]
- Arthritis [5]
- Ankylosing spondylitis [5]
- Abnormal walking patterns (uneven strides) [4]
- Damaged SI joint ligaments [4]
- Pregnancy (hormones cause the relaxation of ligaments and joints) [4]
- Concussion or pounding from running [4]
- Trauma from falls during sports or accidents [4]
- Repeated stress or repetitive movements [6]
- Previous lower back surgery [6]
Benefits of Cervical Sympathetic Blocks
Why should you consider sacroiliac joint injections? SI joint injections offer a minimally invasive alternative to surgery. They are completed in the office and require little to no recovery time. Some patients may experience pain relief within a few days and regain movement and comfort as the inflammation subsides.
SIJIs can confirm and treat your lower back, buttocks, hip or upper leg pain related to sacroiliac joint dysfunction. They also work well with physical therapy, chiropractic care and lifestyle modifications. Pain relief can last up to several months and can be repeated as needed.
SGB Specialists & Pain Management Clinics
If conventional treatments have failed to provide relief for your SI joint pain, steroid injections may be the answer. Pain management clinics specialize in personalized care plans that use interventional treatment and complementary therapies for a whole-body approach.
Your pain care physician and their staff will work with you to address your symptoms and carefully develop a treatment plan that adheres to your goals. Whether you’re dealing with arthritis, trauma or SI joint dysfunction, pain specialists have cutting-edge technology to deliver effective, minimally invasive procedures. They also offer a holistic approach to managing pain, often including physical therapy, counseling, lifestyle adjustments, and therapies like acupuncture and massage.
Don’t let SI joint pain keep you from living life to its fullest. Talk to a pain specialist about how sacroiliac joint steroid injections and a comprehensive approach can help you reclaim your comfort and mobility.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection
How can I tell whether Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection is helping?
Before Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection, identify two or three measurable goals such as sleeping longer, walking farther, sitting through work, using less rescue medication, or completing a specific daily task. After treatment, record both symptom changes and functional changes over the timeframe provided by the clinician. Improvement may be immediate, gradual, partial, or temporary depending on the treatment. A structured record is more useful than relying on a single pain score and helps the care team decide whether to continue, modify, or stop the approach.
What happens if Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection does not provide enough relief?
An incomplete response to Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection does not automatically mean that no other options remain. The clinician may reassess the diagnosis, confirm whether enough time has passed to judge the result, review technique or adherence, and look for more than one source of pain. The next step might involve rehabilitation, medication adjustment, a different targeted treatment, further testing, or referral to another specialist. Repeating an ineffective treatment without a clear reason is generally less useful than reviewing why the expected goals were not met.
What questions should I ask when comparing Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection with alternatives?
Ask how Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection fits the suspected pain source, what level and duration of improvement are realistic, what evidence supports its use for the specific diagnosis, and which risks matter most for your health history. Compare recovery demands, the need for repeat care, cost, and what happens if the treatment is unsuccessful. It is also reasonable to ask about doing nothing immediately or trying a less invasive option first. A useful decision reflects the patient’s goals and preferences as well as technical eligibility.
How should follow-up be planned after starting Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection?
Follow-up after Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection should occur at a time when the expected response can be evaluated meaningfully. The care team should explain what changes may occur first, what information to track, which activities or medicines require special instructions, and whom to contact with concerns. Bring a record of symptom relief, function, side effects, and any new medical events to the visit. Earlier contact is appropriate for unexpected severe symptoms, while routine questions can usually be addressed at the planned reassessment.
Which records should I bring when discussing Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection?
Useful records for a consultation about Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection may include imaging and reports, procedure or operative notes, medication history, rehabilitation summaries, allergy information, and a list of prior treatments with their results. Device information and relevant laboratory or nerve-test reports may also matter. Organize documents chronologically and identify the current functional problem you want addressed. Complete records help the clinician avoid repeating ineffective care and determine whether the treatment matches the suspected source of pain.
Can Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection be repeated or continued long term?
Whether Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection can be repeated or continued depends on what the treatment involves, the benefit achieved, side effects, cumulative risks, and available alternatives. Some treatments are designed as a limited trial, some can be repeated at clinically appropriate intervals, and others are intended as one-time procedures with ongoing follow-up. Patients should ask what result would justify another treatment and whether there is a recommended limit. Continued use should be based on documented improvement in function or quality of life, not routine scheduling alone.
What should my other healthcare clinicians know about Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection?
Clinicians managing other health conditions should know that Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection is planned or has been performed, particularly when they prescribe blood thinners, diabetes medication, immune-suppressing drugs, sedatives, or other medicines that may affect safety. Share the treatment date, medication or device details when relevant, and the name of the treating practice. Patients should not stop a prescription on their own. Coordinating information among clinicians helps prevent conflicting instructions and supports safer decisions before and after treatment.
What should I ask my insurer about coverage for Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection?
Coverage for Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection varies by plan, diagnosis, prior treatment requirements, provider network, and whether authorization is needed. Before scheduling, ask the insurer and treating practice about medical-necessity criteria, required records, facility and professional fees, medication or device charges, and expected out-of-pocket costs. An authorization is not always a guarantee of payment, so retain reference numbers and written estimates. If coverage is denied, ask which reason was given and whether additional documentation or an appeal is available.
Resources:
- Wu L, Tafti D, Varacallo M. Sacroiliac Joint Injection. [Updated 2023 Aug 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing [Internet]; 2024 Jan-.Accessed November 22, 2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513245/
- Sacroiliac Joint (Left Side) Sacroiliac Joint Injection. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Accessed November 22, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/-/scassets/files/org/neurological/spine/sacroiliac-joint-infection-2016.pdf?la=en
- Mehta Y. Sacroiliac Joint Injection for Lower Back Pain. Spine-health [Internet]. Published 2020. Accessed November 22, 2024. Available from: https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/sacroiliac-joint-injection-lower-back-pain
- Collins S. Is Your SI Joint Giving You Back Pain? WebMD [Internet]. Published June 12, 2015. Accessed November 22, 2024. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/si-joint-back-pain
- Sacroiliitis; Symptoms, Causes, Management & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Accessed November 22, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17736-sacroiliitis
- Yeomans S. Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Symptoms and Causes. Spine-health [Internet]. Published 2017. Accessed November 22, 2024. Available from: https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sacroiliac-joint-dysfunction/sacroiliac-joint-dysfunction-symptoms-and-causes