Sacroiliac Joint Pain / S.I. Joint Pain
Overview
You have two sacroiliac joints (SI joint) in your lower back, one on each side of your spine where it meets your pelvis. These joints carry the weight of your upper body, so physical stress and injury can cause chronic pain, as can arthritis in the SI joint. Based on the cause and extent of injury, your persistent pain may range from mild to severe and may not have responded well to other therapies.
How our Pain Specialists Diagnose
Your doctor will perform a physical examination, moving the SI joint in several ways to help pinpoint the source of your pain. A discussion of your symptoms and medical history will further inform the diagnosis. Your doctor may inject a numbing medication (lidocaine) directly into the SI joint and if that relieves the pain, then it indicates that the joint is the source of your pain. This procedure is guided by a fluoroscope (live X-ray) to ensure exact placement. X-rays, CAT scan and MRI can reveal bone abnormalities that confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment Options
- Sacroiliac joint injection
- Epidural steroid injection (ESI)
- Facet joint injections
- Radiofrequency ablation (neuorotomy) (RFA)
- Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
- Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)
- Lumbar epidural steroid injections(LESI)
- Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (Transforaminal ESI)
- Dorsal root ganglion therapy (DRG)
