SI joints diagnostic injections

[Jeaniem130]

Can anyone who has had SI joint cortisone injections share their experience? Thank you!

[weathervane]

I had a guided SI injection with great success, i still get the odd twinge but nothing like it was , i was in severe pain.

I hope it works for you .

[Jeaniem130 in reply to weathervane]

My pain is not severe but I am uncomfortable all the time with little relief from otc meds. I had a lumbar fusion 1 year ago and thought the pain was due to the fusion but an xray showed moderate osteoarthritis in both SI joints.

[weathervane in reply to Jeaniem130]

I got to the point where I could hardly walk , I should have got the injection earlier, if you decide to get treatment, i hope it goes well 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Jeaniem130]

I used to have them regularly, some were more effective than others and lasted from 6-18 months. In my opinion it is definitely worth giving it a try. I haven’t had any for quite a few years now as the NHS stopped doing them but I manage most of the time.

Just for reference, if the injection leaks out of the area it can cause some loss of sensation in the vulval area but like the dentists injections it wears off.

Hope you get some benefit from the treatment.

[Hoodat]

Sorry to spoil the party with a negative, I had the injection, which worked brilliant, for a day, then it was back to normal. When it did work, it was great, as the specialist said, some last for years, I hope you're in the same bracket.

[Alebeau]

I just had one in my shoulder 2 days ago. Was determined to be bursitis possibly caused by long term prednisone.

The injection was painless but the pain took a good 2 days to start improving. In fact the first day after the shot I was having increased pain and feeling discouraged 😞.

Today is day 3 and quite improved now. I can lift my arm with minimal pain 🙂

Patience is a must.

Some doctors use freezing to numb the area but my rheumatologist does not like to do that.

Was worth it in the end

Good luck.

[eeeee]

I've had 2 guided SI joint injections. Both worked for a wonderful week!!Has anyone had the SI joint fusion?

[Jeaniem130 in reply to eeeee]

Surgeon said he could do a fusion if the injections don't work. Right side first since it hurts the most. I am in no hurry to even consider surgery at this point! I guess due to nerve pain and not really feeling fully recovered from the L5 S1 fusion yet. Easier than the lumbar fusion the Dr says, but in my experience surgeons always downplay the negatives, lol.

[Survivor111]

I also had the guided SI joint injection, and as someone else stated it worked for just over a day and the pain was back. It was like a miracle while it lasted, no pain at all, but then it was over in such a short time. I have been going to physical therapy three times a week and the chiropractor twice a week since August for related sciatica pain. I am starting to get discouraged, but am still doing whatever I can to help my situation. Best of luck to you!

[Jeaniem130]

Thank you everyone! I had a l5 S1 fusion a year ago which surgeon says is healing well despite my back pain. My 1 yr post op xray shows this osteoarthritis in both SI joints which is presumed to be causing the pain, so I guess if the injections stop the pain the Dr is correct.

[Hidden]

I started seeing a pain management doctor about 2.5 years ago for lower back pain. She had me get an X-ray and MRI that showed issues with L4-L5 and L5-S1. I got 3 or 4 steroid shots from her that lasted anywhere from 3 to 5 months each. She told me about a procedure called RFA (radio frequency abalation). I laid on my stomach on a table. They put a pad on one of my calves that acts as one of the electrodes. Using X-ray guidance, she used a needle like probe and put it on the sciatica nerve then a machine started sending short pulses of frequency to the nerve. It did these pules about 20 times on each side. The literature says it should last around 9 months. It's been about 7 months now and all is good. I don't have that terrible pain shooting down my right leg anymore.

[abellemed in reply to Hidden]

I, too, had the RFA about 3 yrs ago which lessened a lot of the lumbar/sciatic pain for a few months. However, due to Covid and NHS delays/strikes I am still waiting for repeats, also ones into the lower S1 segments but meanwhile the painkillers I was taking no longer work and I am now bent double, walking with a stick and my legs are losing muscle tone as I can't exercise them enough. So it has been a downward spiral so I am waiting for an appointment "sometime in the new year", ie 2023 onwards....

Can't afford to go private, so will have to wait till the nurses strikes stop or someone waves a majic wand!