These are primarily used either to diagnose or treat low back, buttocks, groin or leg pain and/or sciatica symptoms associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
The sacroiliac joints lie next to the spine and connect the sacrum with the hip on both sides. There are two sacroiliac joints, one on the right and one on the left. When one or both of these joints become irritated or injured, they can cause chronic discomfort and pain.
Guided by a special x-ray, a pain specialist injects a local anesthetic into the affected joint with the goal of determining immediate pain relief. If the anesthetic relieves your pain, this confirms the diagnosis. A corticosteroid medication is also injected. This strong, long-acting medicine reduces inflammation within the joint, which in turn could help alleviate the pain over a longer period of time.
The procedure usually takes only 20 to 30 minutes and the patient goes home the same day.