Our Services / SI Joint

What is the SI joint?

The SI (sacroiliac) joints are in your pelvis. The joint forms where the sacrum (the bone at the bottom of your spine) meets the ilium, the large bone at the top of your hip.

Sacroiliac joints aren’t like most joints because they move very little. But problems with the joints can cause sharp, sudden pain that spreads into the lower back or through the buttocks and hips.

SI joint conditions sometimes cause numbness or tingling in these areas. Your legs might feel like giving way when you’re standing or walking.

What causes SI joint pain?

SI joint pain is commonly caused by inflammation in one or both SI joints. Causes of this inflammation include:

• Arthritis
• Gout
• Injuries
• Pregnancy
• Abnormal walking patterns

There’s no blanket approach to treating SI joint pain. The Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic team uses their skill and experience to determine which treatment will most effectively address your symptoms.

How is SI joint pain treated?

The treatment of SI joint pain focuses on relieving your discomfort and restoring motion to the joint. Nonsurgical treatments include:

• Rest
• Heat or ice therapy
• Pain medication
• Manual manipulation
• Wearing a pelvic brace

Initial therapies are often successful in reducing SI joint pain. If noninvasive treatments don’t provide relief, a minimally invasive procedure might better address your condition. Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic specializes in these treatments, which include:

Sacroiliac joint injections

SI joint injections contain a steroid medication with long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects. Before your SI joint injection, your doctor numbs the affected area. Using X-rays for accuracy, they inject contrast material into the joint. This ensures that your medication spreads properly through the joint.

Sacroiliac joint rhizotomy

Rhizotomy is a heat treatment that deactivates nerves. Your doctor cleans and numbs the treatment area. Using fluoroscopy (moving X-ray images), they insert a needle into your SI joint. They pass a temperature-monitored electrode (wire) into the joint that heats the sensory nerves, relieving pain.

SI joint surgery

One surgery for SI joint pain is the percutaneous (lateral) approach. Your surgeon uses an endoscope (a slim tube fitted with a camera) that they insert through a small hole. They insert cages and screws to fuse the bones and reduce SI joint pain.

Another SI joint surgery is the posterior (open) approach. Your surgeon makes a small cut just below your waist. They insert a bone graft using specialized surgical tools to promote new bone growth, fusing and stabilizing the joint.

Call Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic today or book an appointment online to find expert relief from your SI joint pain.