SI Joint Injection FAQs
Question: Will this procedure be painful?
Answer:
A local anesthetic is administered which momentarily stings. Immediately following this, the skin is numb. Following this, the procedure should not be painful.
Question: Will I be sedated for the procedure?
Answer:
No, not usually. We can certainly perform sedation depending on a patient’s level of comfort or discomfort, but it is not usually necessary. If we do use conscious sedation, an IV will be placed prior to the procedure and a small amount of sedative will be administered. You will be monitored during this time. Be sure to tell the nurse or doctor of any drug allergies you may have.
Question: How long will it take?
Answer:
The actual procedure typically takes about 20-40 minutes. We usually have the patient stay in the recovery room following the examination long enough to assess their pain response, and then they are discharged.
Question: Can I go to work after the procedure?
Answer:
We typically advise patients to take it easy following the procedure, with no strenuous activity or lifting. Sometimes we will leave it up to the patient, depending on how they feel, and the type of work they do, as to whether they can resume work that day.
Question: What happens after the exam?
Answer:
The results of the exam are immediately communicated to your referring physician, so that you and your referring doctor can come up with a plan to manage the pain.
Question: What gets injected into my discs during the procedure?
Answer:
We inject a very small amount of anesthetic and steroid. Be sure and tell the nurse or radiologist if you have any medication or antibiotic allergies.
Question: Are there any side effects from the procedure?
Answer:
Occasionally, a patient may have short-term (minutes to 1-2 hours) weakness in the leg on the side injected.
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