Sacro-iliac joint injections
Patient information leaflets
NHS Borders
Chronic Pain Service
Borders General Hospital
Melrose
TD6 9BS
For a copy of this information in:
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telephone us on 01896 826323
"Information given on this site is not meant to take the place of a talk with your doctor or health worker."
Introduction
Please make sure you have someone to collect you afterwards as you should not drive home after you have the injection.
Your doctor has referred you to the Pain Clinic for specialist advice on your pain.
The Consultant in Pain Management has recommended that you consider a sacro-iliac joint injection.
They think the pain you are having may be caused by irritation of the sacro-iliac joint.
This leaflet aims to explain this procedure to you and answer some of the questions you may have. Before going ahead with the procedure the Consultant will discuss the expected benefits and risks with you.
What is a sacro-iliac joint injection?
The sacro-iliac joint is a large joint holding the iliac bone to the sacrum. You have two joints, one on each side.
The aim of this injection is to place a small amount of local anaesthetic and steroid (depomedrone) inside the
joint using a fine needle.
This will hopefully reduce inflammation inside the joint and reduce pain.
Will it help?
Unfortunately there are no guarantees as to how much pain relief you will get or how long it will last for.
Everyone's pain is unique and responds differently.
The procedure ? what to expect?
This procedure is carried out in the radiology department at the Borders General Hospital. Below is a summary of what to expect.
After discussion with the Consultant and your consent to the procedure, you will be shown to the area where the injection will be done.
You should not need to undress fully or take off under garments. Wearing loose fitting clothes that can be easily pulled down allowing access to you lower back is helpful.
The injection is given with you lying face down on the X-Ray table. The area to be injected is cleaned with antiseptic and the skin numbed with an injection of local anaesthetic. This can sting a little at first.
Using X-Ray guidance a fine needle is inserted either into or very close to the sacro-iliac joint.
A small amount of local anaesthetic and steroid is then injected.
Will it be painful?
Local anaesthetics may be initially sore for a few seconds. As the injection is given you may feel a temporary
increase in your pain. This does not last long and can help the doctor find the right place to inject the local anaesthetic and steroid.
What happens after the injection?
You will normally be able to get up off the X-Ray table by yourself and walk normally.
Pain relief may happen in the following ways.
1. Immediate relief lasting for several weeks
2. Worse for a while and then relief for several weeks
3. No change at first and then gradual relief over several weeks
But sometimes no pain relief happens at all.
Going home
You may go home as soon as you feel ready.
Please make sure you have someone to collect you afterwards as you should not drive home.
What are the possible side effects of the medicines?
Temporary numbness in the leg(s) which usually wears off after a few hours. This only happens if local anaesthetic spills from the sacro-iliac joint to nearby the sciatic nerve.
What are the possible complications of this treatment?
Soreness or bruising around where you have the injection. This usually settles within a few days.
No pain relief. Probably the most common side effect. This may be because the needle was not in the right
place or your pain is caused by something else.
The pain may be worse afterwards rather than better. This is unusual and does not usually last long. It may
be caused by spasm of muscles around the sacro-iliac joint.
What are the follow up arrangements?
It is important to feed back your response from the procedure. The Pain Clinic will arrange a follow up plan for
you at the appointment.
If you still have any questions after reading this leaflet, please contact us via the following numbers:
Pain Clinic Nurse Specialist tel:01896 826335, or leave a message with the Pain Clinic Secretary/answer phone tel:01896 826323 and we will return your call.