Back pain is fairly common in the U.S. Yet surprisingly, some types of pain that are perceived to originate in the back have nothing to do with the back at all. For instance, persistent pain radiating through the lower back, buttocks, and upper thighs may be completely unrelated to the spine. The source of the pain could actually be one or both sacroiliac joints.
These two joints are especially susceptible to breakdown and arthritic pain because of the sheer amount of energy they absorb on a daily basis. Mild cases can usually be treated with OTC or prescription medications. More serious cases are good candidates for a procedure known as sacroiliac injection (SI). It is a highly effective treatment with an impressive success rate.
More About the Joints
The sacroiliac joints are the two joints that connect the spine to the pelvis. Both are rather small. But due to their function, they experience a tremendous amount of stress whether a person stands, sits, or walks. It makes sense that the joints would wear out with age. In addition, the joints can be damaged by injury or disease.
When these joints become arthritic, they cause quite a bit of pain. The pain is made worse when it overlaps with other issues like herniated discs and facet joint syndrome. SI can be deployed to both help doctors figure out the source of a patient’s pain and provide long-term relief when the problem is the sacroiliac joints.
Functionally, the SI procedure is fairly simple. A doctor uses fluoroscopy to guide a needle through the skin and directly to the affected joint. Then a combination of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication (usually a corticosteroid) is injected. If immediate pain relief is experienced, the doctor’s diagnosis of a sacroiliac problem is correct. The corticosteroid will reduce deep-seated inflammation and allow the joint tissue to begin healing.
An Exceptionally High Success Rate
Sacroiliac joint injections are one of the alternative pain medicine treatments doctors at Texas-based Lone Star Pain Medicine offer. Lone Star says the most exciting aspect of SI is its high success rate. Up to 90% of patients who undergo the procedure report significant pain reduction and a noticeable restoration of mobility. Less pain and more mobility mean better daily lives for these patients.
It is believed that the key to SI’s success is its ability to limit deep-seated inflammation. When inflammation is drastically reduced, the pain cycle is broken. Patients previously debilitated by pain are able to get up and move. They find they can resume daily activities, which strengthens the joints and surrounding tissues.
SI Is an Alternative Treatment
It should be noted that SI is considered an alternative treatment. That matters from an insurance perspective. Most insurance providers, Medicaid included, will pay all or most of the cost of the procedure. But there are strings attached.
In order to ensure that SI is truly necessary, insurance carriers require that patients try more conservative therapies first. It is typical for patients to have to try other non-surgical treatments for 4-6 weeks, without success, before SI will be covered. Examples of such treatments include:
- Physical therapy
- OTC and prescription medications
- Documented activity modifications
If conservative treatments have failed to provide adequate relief, patients can then ask their insurance carriers to cover SI. Medicaid will cover about 80% of the total cost. Rates among other insurance carriers vary.
If you are experiencing arthritis in one or both of your sacroiliac joints, you may be a candidate for SI. The simple injection therapy could be the key to long-lasting pain relief.
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