Pain centered in the low back or buttock that worsens with standing, sitting, or climbing stairs can point to sacroiliac joint dysfunction. A sacroiliac joint injection combines anti-inflammatory medication with image guidance to treat pain at its source, in the joint where the spine meets the pelvis. Our board-certified physicians use this approach both to relieve pain and to help confirm the joint as the cause of your symptoms.
What Is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?
The sacroiliac (SI) joints connect the base of the spine to the pelvis on each side and absorb shock as you walk, stand, and shift your weight. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction develops when one or both joints move abnormally or become inflamed, often due to arthritis, pregnancy-related changes, injury, or long-term wear. The result is pain in the low back, buttock, or hip that can radiate into the thigh, and it is frequently mistaken for other causes of back pain.
Because SI joint pain can mimic disc-related or muscular back pain, an accurate diagnosis matters. Our physicians use a combination of physical exam findings, imaging, and sometimes a diagnostic injection to confirm the SI joint as the source before recommending sacroiliac joint pain treatment. If the discs or muscles in your low back are also involved, our back pain page (/conditions/back-pain/) covers those treatment options as well.
What Does a Sacroiliac Joint Injection Do?
A sacroiliac joint injection delivers corticosteroid medication directly into the joint using fluoroscopic image guidance to confirm accurate placement. The medication reduces inflammation in the joint, which can relieve pain and, in many cases, help confirm the SI joint as the source of your symptoms if pain improves significantly after the injection. This makes the procedure both a sacroiliac joint dysfunction treatment and a diagnostic tool your physician can use to guide further care.
What to Expect During the Procedure
The injection is performed in an outpatient setting and typically takes about 15 to 20 minutes. After numbing the skin, your physician guides a thin needle into the SI joint under fluoroscopic imaging and delivers the medication once placement is confirmed. Most patients are monitored briefly afterward and can return home the same day.
Recovery and How Long Relief Lasts
Sacroiliac joint injection recovery time is typically short. Many patients resume normal activity within a day, though your physician may suggest limiting strenuous movement for a few days. Relief can begin within days and commonly lasts several weeks to several months, though how long it lasts varies based on the severity and cause of your SI joint dysfunction. Physical therapy focused on stabilizing the joint is often recommended alongside the injection to help extend and reinforce relief.
Side Effects and Candidacy
SI joint injection side effects are usually mild and short-lived, such as soreness at the injection site or a brief flare in pain before the medication takes effect. Serious complications are uncommon when the procedure is performed by an experienced physician. Candidates are typically patients with low back or buttock pain that has not responded to conservative treatment, such as physical therapy or medication, and whose exam and imaging point to the SI joint as a likely cause.
Why Choose Summit Spine & Joint Centers
Patients need a physician who understands both the clinical and practical sides of recovery. Summit Spine & Joint Centers offers:
- Board-certified physicians with fellowship training in image-guided spine and pain procedures.
- Non-surgical treatment options to address pain at its source.
- Multiple locations in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
- Personalized care plans built around your diagnosis and recovery goals.
- Advanced diagnostic imaging and image-guided procedures available under one practice.
- Same-day appointments available in many cases, so care is not delayed.
Find Relief From SI Joint Pain
If low back or buttock pain is affecting your daily life, a sacroiliac joint injection may provide the answer and the relief you need. Schedule an evaluation with Summit Spine & Joint Centers today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Relief commonly lasts several weeks to several months, though results vary depending on the cause and severity of your sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Most patients experience only mild, temporary side effects such as soreness at the injection site. Your physician will review your health history to help minimize any risk.
Most patients return to normal activity within a day, with physicians often recommending a few days of lighter activity before resuming a full routine.
It depends on the source of your pain. Your physician will review your symptoms, exam findings, and imaging to determine whether the SI joint, rather than the discs or muscles, is the primary cause before recommending this treatment.
