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Original poster

SI joint injections - any advice?

16 replies

Petergriffinschins · 27/03/2025 17:53

I’ve been having back pain for 6 months now. I’ve seen a private physio, a chiropractor (once, never again, I think he was some sort of sadist), and an osteopath.

All thought SI joint from the beginning. Nothing any of them did worked. Have been doing all the exercises for 6 months, nothing has helped. I don’t take pain killers as it’s not that bad. After the initial electric shock feelings calmed down, it was just pain and soreness in one area of my back spreading to surrounding muscles, mainly my arse, which was fun. That pain sloooowly got better until I am where I am now. Just a constant soreness on the right side of my lower back, and my leg feeling heavy and numb when I walk.

Bit the bullet two weeks ago and got my insurance to book me with a spinal surgeon. MRI last week showed it was probably SI joint.

Consultant has said to have the SI joint injection for diagnostic purposes. Basically, if it stops it hurting it’s deffo that - but he’s pretty sure it is from MRI.

I have had some pretty traumatic medical procedures over the last couple of years for other health issues. All were supposed not to hurt. All left me in fucking agony during. Especially my colonoscopy which had me in so much pain the consultant wanted to stop - I told him to carry on as ai just wanted it done. I was “sedated” only it didn’t work. They gave me the maximum and said they could give no more, it would have been dangerous. It did nothing for me.

For my back, I’m in pretty good hands. It will be guided by hand held xray device, and he said he will inject a local anaesthetic. Also, the spinal surgeon will be doing it himself as I’m seeing him privately. He said it wouldn’t hurt, but I’ve been told that before. All I’ve read is horror stories on how shit and painful they are.

While I understand it’s mainly for diagnostics, it’s not a cure. Some people, if it works, only get relief for a few weeks.

It’s up to me really when to book in. He’s given me some options of dates to think about over the next few weeks. But I’m terrified.

I was thinking of emailing him to ask if he could prescribe me anything like diazepam to take for it. My own GP won’t - I asked him before another procedure and he said he wouldn’t, the consultant would have to.

Anyone had one of these injections before and how was it?

OP posts:
SepticCess · 27/03/2025 18:11

Petergriffinschins · 27/03/2025 17:53

I’ve been having back pain for 6 months now. I’ve seen a private physio, a chiropractor (once, never again, I think he was some sort of sadist), and an osteopath.

All thought SI joint from the beginning. Nothing any of them did worked. Have been doing all the exercises for 6 months, nothing has helped. I don’t take pain killers as it’s not that bad. After the initial electric shock feelings calmed down, it was just pain and soreness in one area of my back spreading to surrounding muscles, mainly my arse, which was fun. That pain sloooowly got better until I am where I am now. Just a constant soreness on the right side of my lower back, and my leg feeling heavy and numb when I walk.

Bit the bullet two weeks ago and got my insurance to book me with a spinal surgeon. MRI last week showed it was probably SI joint.

Consultant has said to have the SI joint injection for diagnostic purposes. Basically, if it stops it hurting it’s deffo that - but he’s pretty sure it is from MRI.

I have had some pretty traumatic medical procedures over the last couple of years for other health issues. All were supposed not to hurt. All left me in fucking agony during. Especially my colonoscopy which had me in so much pain the consultant wanted to stop - I told him to carry on as ai just wanted it done. I was “sedated” only it didn’t work. They gave me the maximum and said they could give no more, it would have been dangerous. It did nothing for me.

For my back, I’m in pretty good hands. It will be guided by hand held xray device, and he said he will inject a local anaesthetic. Also, the spinal surgeon will be doing it himself as I’m seeing him privately. He said it wouldn’t hurt, but I’ve been told that before. All I’ve read is horror stories on how shit and painful they are.

While I understand it’s mainly for diagnostics, it’s not a cure. Some people, if it works, only get relief for a few weeks.

It’s up to me really when to book in. He’s given me some options of dates to think about over the next few weeks. But I’m terrified.

I was thinking of emailing him to ask if he could prescribe me anything like diazepam to take for it. My own GP won’t - I asked him before another procedure and he said he wouldn’t, the consultant would have to.

Anyone had one of these injections before and how was it?

I've got a massive history with this condition. Feel free to pm me.

Original poster
Petergriffinschins · 27/03/2025 18:11

SepticCess · 27/03/2025 18:11

I've got a massive history with this condition. Feel free to pm me.

Show quote history

I will do, thank you!

OP posts:
Greybeardy · 27/03/2025 18:15

if you've got cash to spare get it done on an anaesthetic list. Non-anaesthetist sedation lists are very protocolised because people who aren't anaesthetists are not routinely managing the predictable side effects of deep sedation, hence the max dose - there's really no such thing as the max dose, it's just that with increasing doses you get closer to anaesthesia than sedation. GP is quite right to not get involved in prescribing benzos.

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Original poster
Petergriffinschins · 27/03/2025 18:21

Greybeardy · 27/03/2025 18:15

if you've got cash to spare get it done on an anaesthetic list. Non-anaesthetist sedation lists are very protocolised because people who aren't anaesthetists are not routinely managing the predictable side effects of deep sedation, hence the max dose - there's really no such thing as the max dose, it's just that with increasing doses you get closer to anaesthesia than sedation. GP is quite right to not get involved in prescribing benzos.

I haven’t had a great experience with full anaesthetic before either. When I had my colonoscopy he wanted to stop and said he would have me back in under anaesthetic - I told him to carry on as I didn’t want it.

Yes, I know the GP wouldn’t do it - but I had one consultant (for something unrelated), who told me it wouldn’t hurt and told me to go to my GP as he wouldn’t prescribe; GP said no, only then did the consultant say okay (it didn’t stop the pain, obviously, but I didn’t care as much).

OP posts:
Greybeardy · 27/03/2025 18:24

it doesn't need a GA usually - it's just we use different drugs/different doses for sedation to the non-anaesthetist sedationists.

SepticCess · 27/03/2025 19:19

You don't need an anaesthetic. They put local in the skin and you can't really feel the needle going between the bone surfaces. The injection has local anaesthetic in it so as soon as it's released, the pain goes.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/03/2025 19:34

I've had joint injections before now, SI ones are done in a far more controlled environment than a 'hop on the bed, take your sock/jumper off AND DON'T MOVE'. I wouldn't say that they're my favourite thing in the world by any means, but I'm talking about five minutes at the end of a bog standard NHS Rheumatology appointment, not a private procedure. For a start, there will be time for the local to take effect (and that's just a slight scratchy sting at most). And when they're needed, the relief they provide is absolutely amazing.

Once the actual medication is injected, you'll start feeling the difference within a few minutes from the additional anaesthetic that's mixed with the steroid and then the steroid kicks in over the next few hours. I got told not to do anything too crazily physical for the first day, as it's easy to assume you can do everything right now in the initial period. For some people, it might take a couple of days post injection, depending on how inflamed the area was to begin with.

crisismode · 27/03/2025 19:36

I have SI joint problems due to inflammatory arthritis. Not had si injections but have had hips and other joints done as guided ultrasound injections.
I am hypermobile and I know I have problems with local anaesthetic. Some were done with a local first and then the steroid injection. Others were done as a combined injection. The combined ones were not great - the anaesthetic didn't kick in until it was all over 🙁 the others were better, but consultant had also allowed extra time for the anaesthetic to work and gave a higher dose than normal.

Have you ever had local anaesthetic before?

Original poster
Petergriffinschins · 27/03/2025 19:44

crisismode · 27/03/2025 19:36

I have SI joint problems due to inflammatory arthritis. Not had si injections but have had hips and other joints done as guided ultrasound injections.
I am hypermobile and I know I have problems with local anaesthetic. Some were done with a local first and then the steroid injection. Others were done as a combined injection. The combined ones were not great - the anaesthetic didn't kick in until it was all over 🙁 the others were better, but consultant had also allowed extra time for the anaesthetic to work and gave a higher dose than normal.

Have you ever had local anaesthetic before?

Yes. I’ve had moles removed under local, a big toenail removed. The first few times they didn’t seem to do much and they didn’t believe me (I was a teen). Subsequently, I told them that and it’s been better.

OP posts:
Original poster
Petergriffinschins · 27/03/2025 19:46

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/03/2025 19:34

I've had joint injections before now, SI ones are done in a far more controlled environment than a 'hop on the bed, take your sock/jumper off AND DON'T MOVE'. I wouldn't say that they're my favourite thing in the world by any means, but I'm talking about five minutes at the end of a bog standard NHS Rheumatology appointment, not a private procedure. For a start, there will be time for the local to take effect (and that's just a slight scratchy sting at most). And when they're needed, the relief they provide is absolutely amazing.

Once the actual medication is injected, you'll start feeling the difference within a few minutes from the additional anaesthetic that's mixed with the steroid and then the steroid kicks in over the next few hours. I got told not to do anything too crazily physical for the first day, as it's easy to assume you can do everything right now in the initial period. For some people, it might take a couple of days post injection, depending on how inflamed the area was to begin with.

He said to prepare to be in for at least half a day.

OP posts:
Littleredshoesdotcom · 27/03/2025 19:47

I’ve had this done in my hips with x ray guidance when I was in my 20s & it was quite good. I remember squeezing a doctors hand and swearing at him (he said I could!) 🤣

I remember it hurting a lot afterwards but Id have it done again without a doubt! It changed my life. Mine was for diagnostic reasons but it also reduced pain for me afterwards. I went from not being able to walk far to running up a mountain!

Loved watching it on the X Ray screen though - was fascinating. I had a Local.

Littleredshoesdotcom · 27/03/2025 19:48

I was in for most of the day afterwards. ☺️ I think I had more care and attention for this than my C Section!

DinoLil · 27/03/2025 19:48

I've got 30yrs of SI joint dysfunction. I've had the injections (useless)...I could bore you with so much about the debacle, it's a joke.

So many contradictions. Soooo many.

But no, the injections just left me unable to walk for a few days because they didn't inject under xray and the anaesthetic and steroid went into my spinal column instead.

I've honestly had the whole, flaming lot. Since I was 21. I'm 53 now and still battling with it all.

Original poster
Petergriffinschins · 27/03/2025 19:50

I’ll email his secretary tomorrow. I had the follow up from the initial appointment and MRI on Monday, I’ve been debating it since (and had to square it all with AXA to make sure it was all covered anyway). He’s got availability at least one day a week, I know I should just get it over and done with next week, but it’s just a bit daunting given what I’ve been through before.

OP posts:
Original poster
Petergriffinschins · 27/03/2025 19:53

DinoLil · 27/03/2025 19:48

I've got 30yrs of SI joint dysfunction. I've had the injections (useless)...I could bore you with so much about the debacle, it's a joke.

So many contradictions. Soooo many.

But no, the injections just left me unable to walk for a few days because they didn't inject under xray and the anaesthetic and steroid went into my spinal column instead.

I've honestly had the whole, flaming lot. Since I was 21. I'm 53 now and still battling with it all.

Oh, bloody hell! I’ve heard so many horror stories of them being done unguided.

He said in his report that if he confined it via injection, the next step would be radio frequency ablation.

OP posts:
mais · 27/03/2025 20:07

I had it done a few years ago - guided. Like you I had tried everything and the pain just wouldn't go away. It was pretty sore but grit your teeth and bare it sort of pain, I think it was painful as the area was still so inflamed The consultant was surprised I found it as painful as I did and I usually have a good tolerance for pain. The next few days were sore but it calmed down and it has been so much better since.
For me it fixed me, I had done rest, lots of anti inflammatories, physio, all the exercises nothing relieved any of the pain and they could see on the MRI that it was inflamed. It was the best thing I did for it- I don't think it would have resolved by itself and I was really struggling.
Best of luck

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