Sacroiliac joint radiofrequency treatment

What is sacroiliac joint?

The sacrum is the small of the back in the bottom of the spine. The hip bone is called the ilium and the area where it joins the sacrum at the back is known as the sacroiliac joint.

What is sacroiliac joint radiofrequency treatment?

Sacro-iliac joint injections may be used to diagnose and treat certain types of lower back pain. A mixture of local anaesthetic and steroid is used for the injection. If the injections give short-term pain relief, radiofrequency treatment is offered to try and prolong the benefit of the injection therapy. In the radiofrequency treatment, instead of just injecting medicine, the nerves carrying the pain signals from the sacroiliac joints are stunned with electrical field delivered with a fine needle.

Benefits

A proportion of patients with pain due to sacroiliac joint involvement experience good pain relief from this procedure on a long term basis.

Risks

Unfortunately no procedure is risk free. Short-term side effects include injection soreness at the site of the injection, infection, bruising and bleeding. There is a possibility that you may have an allergic reaction to the drugs used. The local anaesthetic can spread and cause some numbness in the buttocks and legs. This is temporary and will resolve. Long-term effects are less common. Occasionally injections can exacerbate the pain symptoms. Very rarely, radiofrequency treatment can cause nerve damage resulting in leg weakness and numbness. During the treatment, different safety precautions will be taken to minimise risks.

On the day of injection, is there a need for any specific preparation?

You do not have to skip any meals before your nerve block. Eat lightly and drink plenty of water. Unless specifically advised to stop any, you can take your routine medications as usual. Please bring a list of your medications with you. Please informs the doctor if there is any possibility of being pregnant.

What happens when I come to hospital for the injection therapy?

Your stay in hospital may vary between 1 to 2 hours. The actual injection takes about 30-45 minutes to perform. You will be laying on your front & will be awake during the procedure. The doctor will use x-ray to perform the block. After cleaning the lower back area with antiseptic solution, numbing medicine will be injected to the skin. Then the radiofrequency treatment will be performed with special needles (also known as electrodes).

Do I need to take any precautions after the block?

Arrange to have someone drive you home! Sometimes the legs may be a bit wobbly. Ensure you are steady on your feet before getting out of the hospital bed. You may be sore or have more pain before you feel better. The treatment may take a few days to weeks to help with pain. No need for any bed rest. But avoid strenuous physical activity on the day of the block. From the next day onwards, you can resume back to your normal activities. You may continue to take your routine medications. The doctor may advice you about reducing your painkillers once you start getting benefit with the nerve block.

Rarely, if there is unbearable exacerbation of pain, unusual redness, discharge or swelling at the site of injection or persistently high temperature – you have to contact the doctor and go to the emergency department immediately.