CPMSR

The purpose of sacroiliac injections is to reduce pain in sacroiliac joints located between the sacrum and pelvic bone. Sacroiliac joints are an integral part of the pelvis; more precisely, they are located on each backside of the pelvis and across the gluteal region.
Sacroiliac joints can be one of the mechanical sources of lumbar pain.

For more information on the sacroiliac joint injection procedure performed at our clinic in Montréal, contact us!

Treating Sacroiliac Joint Pain

The purpose of sacroiliac joint injections is to alleviate a patient’s pain in sacroiliac joints. This type of injection also serves to confirm that the source of the pain is a sacroiliac joint. In some cases, the sacroiliac joint can be the source of pain in the lower lumbar area and the pelvis.

When a sacroiliac joint is confirmed as the source of a patient’s pain, injections provide significant relief. Relief may be permanent or temporary, depending on the underlying condition.

Prior to any procedure, patients complete a medical record to clearly indicate the site and path of their pain.

Then they are interviewed and examined by the physiatrist in charge before proceeding with an injection. During the procedure, patients are settled comfortably on their stomach with the help of a radiology technologist.

After carefully disinfecting the skin, a local anesthetic is applied to the skin to ensure greater comfort. Sacroiliac joint injections are performed with state-of-the-art, specialized radiological equipment using X-rays to view spine structures and allow the physiatrist to position the injection needle very precisely and safely during the procedure.

A small quantity of colorant (iodine) is used to enhance the needle’s location. Then, an anti-inflammatory (cortisone) and anesthetic (Xylocaine) solution is injected.

Once the procedure is over, patients are taken to an observation room for fifteen minutes to make sure that there are no allergic reactions.

After a sacroiliac joint injection, pain may increase slightly during the first seven to ten days. If this is the case, applying ice to the treated area and taking an analgesic helps to ease discomfort. For patients with diabetes, glycemia may increase for a period between 48 to 72 hours following procedure. Some redness and a warm sensation have been reported to occur on the face and the trunk during the first 48 to 72 hours. This reaction is not the sign of an allergic reaction. It should pass in the days following the procedure.
Complications likely to follow a sacroiliac joint injection performed in cases of lumbar pain are extremely rare and remain exceptional cases. Risks of complications such as infection or bleeding are the same as for any other type of injection. Therefore, if you are taking antibiotics for an infection or if you have fever, you should notify your physician and discuss prior to the procedure. Likewise, if you are taking blood thinning medication (anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents), you must notify your physician in order to take maximum precautions.

To reduce risks of complications, certain precautions are advised :

  • During pregnancy, sacroiliac joint injections are contra-indicated.
  • Any allergies to medication or contrast agents like iodine must be reported to our clinic’s physiatrist.