In this article, you will find out everything you need to know about sacroiliac joint pain and the most effective ways to treat it, including an advanced treatment called Prolotherapy.
What Is the Treatment for Sacroiliac Joint Pain NHS: Understanding Sacroiliac Joint Pain and Treatment Options Explored
Are you looking for effective NHS or other treatment options for sacroiliac joint pain? “What is the treatment for sacroiliac joint pain?” you might ask. Sacroiliac joint injections are a standard and potent option offered by the NHS to manage this debilitating condition. This article unpacks the procedure, its potential for relief, and the patient journey provided under NHS care. Whether immediate pain reduction or longer-term management, we’ll explore the comprehensive care approach the NHS takes to alleviate sacroiliac joint pain.
Key Takeaways
- Sacroiliac joint pain, affecting the lower back and potentially radiating into the thighs or buttocks, can be caused by traumatic injuries, biomechanical issues, or inflammatory joint diseases.
- Sacroiliac joint injections containing a mix of local anaesthetic and steroids can provide immediate and longer-term pain relief, lasting up to six months. They may also assist in diagnosing the source of pain.
- Post-procedure care for sacroiliac joint injections generally involves mild activity, and patients are advised to monitor for any adverse effects; the duration and efficacy of relief vary among individuals.
Understanding Sacroiliac Joint Pain
The human body is an intricate assembly of interrelated components, each essential to our day-to-day function. The sacroiliac joints are situated at the very base of the spine and perform a critical role by bearing and distributing forces between the torso and lower extremities. They absorb shocks from bodily movements, much like natural dampers.
Dysfunction in these pivotal joints can lead to severe discomfort manifesting as pain in the lower back or thighs and potential soreness extending into the groin area and buttocks. Such afflictions stem from various causes, including but not limited to physical injuries, mechanical imbalances within one’s gait, hormonal variations experienced during pregnancy or inflammatory conditions affecting joints like arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. This sharp localized pain tends to extend along the leg while exacerbating with weight-bearing activities such as walking or standing upright.
Sacroiliac Joint Injection as a Treatment Option
Rest assured, the administration of a sacroiliac joint injection is an effective method to alleviate pain. The process for successful treatment entails administering medication right into the sacroiliac joint to diminish inflammation. Research has shown that this treatment not only markedly lowers pain levels—as reflected in reduced visual analogue scale (VAS) scores—but also enhances function.
As a proven solution, this procedure is secure and widely recognized for its efficacy. It offers short-term and intermediate-term relief from discomfort in the joint, maintaining significant effectiveness for up to half a year.
Components of the Injection
An injection into the sacroiliac joint comprises a local anaesthetic paired with a modest amount of steroid to alleviate pain and diminish inflammation in the targeted region. The purpose of the local anaesthetic is to numb the joint, offering prompt relief from discomfort, whereas the role of the steroid is focused on mitigating inflammation.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Benefits
The sacroiliac joint injection not only provides pain relief but also serves as a diagnostic tool for identifying the cause of your discomfort. In cases where physical assessments and imaging tests are inconclusive, these injections can effectively confirm whether the sacroiliac joint is responsible for the pain. If there’s at least a 75% reduction in pain post-injection, it strongly suggests that this joint is indeed causing the problem.
To confirm diagnosis instantly, the injection may offer prolonged therapeutic benefits. This two-fold effect is achieved when steroids are included in the treatment—initially reducing discomfort swiftly with local anaesthetic and potentially extending relief over time through steroid use.
Preparing for the Sacroiliac Joint Injection
Understanding the advantages of a sacroiliac joint injection allows us to explore how one should prepare for this treatment. Continue taking prescribed medications with minimal water intake when needed on your scheduled day. It’s essential to arrive with an exhaustive list of all your medicines.
To facilitate optimal care during your treatment, you must relay recent and relevant health information such as:
- any infections
- positive MRSA test results
- usage of antibiotics recently
- pregnancy status
- whether you have diabetes
To the healthcare provider overseeing your procedure. Should there be an active infection in your body or specifically at the planned skin site for the joint injection site on your back, rescheduling will be necessary. Before proceeding with injections, if there are upcoming plans for international travel within two weeks post-treatment. Consult with your doctor about potential postponement risks. Lastly, if circumstances arise where attendance at the appointment becomes unfeasible, contact the care coordinator immediately.
The Sacroiliac Joint Injection Procedure
We’ll walk you through the sacroiliac joint injection procedure now. You will be asked to lie face down while this process, usually taking 10 to 20 minutes, is performed. With fluoroscopic or X-ray technology, your doctor will precisely direct the needle into the sacroiliac joint before administering the medication.
As part of this procedure, it’s common to feel pressure, restriction, or even a pushing sensation in the treated area. These sensations are typically expected during such an intervention. If you encounter any pain throughout this time, communicate that immediately with your doctor.
Post-Procedure Care and Expectations
After receiving the injection, you may feel a slight tenderness in the area where it was administered. It is recommended to keep that spot dry for at least 24 hours and continue with your regular pain management medications. The local anaesthetic is injected which may cause temporary numbness, and occasionally, side effects like diarrhoea can occur due to the steroid. These issues Subside within several days up to one week.
Should there be an escalation in pain or if swelling or any other problematic symptoms arise, promptly contact your doctor or the Pain Clinic during their usual business hours. If this occurs outside of normal working hours of those times, please get in touch with your GP or nearest clinic for assistance.
Duration of Pain Relief
Regarding the expected duration of pain relief from an injection into the sacroiliac joint, individual experiences can vary. Here’s a general idea of what might occur.
- Typically, if your pain originates from the sacroiliac joint, you’ll feel significant relief rapidly – within about 15 minutes following the injection due to the local anaesthetic. This easing of pain persists for a few hours.
- The steroid portion of the injection aims at providing more extended relief and could maintain its effects for upwards of six months.
- It is important to note that after this procedure, some patients may find that their discomfort reemerges several days and months later. Such variations reflect personal differences in response.
It’s essential to understand that not everyone will experience relief after receiving these injections — outcomes vary widely. Some may notice immediate improvements, while others might wait one or two weeks. Alternatively, there are cases where no benefit is perceived at all. In essence, though it is possible to receive prompt respite as soon as a few hours post-injection thanks to the local anaesthetic used during treatment and enjoy prolonged benefits potentially extending beyond half a year owing solely on account fo therapeutical use steroids included within compound injected – results cannot be promised unconditionally they differ significantly among certain types of people who undergo same medical interventions concerned with pain management related specifically targeting said joint area.
Activity Recommendations
After undergoing the procedure, it’s recommended that you return to movement gradually. Begin with gentle exercise following the injection and incrementally intensify your workouts, mainly focusing on daily strolls, sessions on an exercise bike or backstroke swimming as the pain subsides. Although you might be tempted to push yourself harder when discomfort seems manageable, caution is advised against overexerting, which can lead to heightened back pain in subsequent days.
If exercising is becoming more strenuous or complications arise, promptly contact your General Practitioner (GP) or the team specializing in pain management. They are equipped to provide Guidance and may suggest engaging in physiotherapy for additional support.
Alternative Treatments for Sacroiliac Joint Pain
Exploring additional treatment options alongside sacroiliac joint injections is advantageous for those seeking pain relief. Physical therapy plays a crucial role in alleviating discomfort by correcting biomechanical issues and improving mobility. Rest combined with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be an effective strategy to manage and treat both acute and subacute pain associated with the sacroiliac joint.
For augmenting stability within the joint, using support devices like belts designed explicitly for the sacroiliac area may prove helpful. In contrast, chiropractic adjustments can also relieve pain from chronic conditions affecting this region. Should conservative measures fall short in providing adequate respite from discomfort, more invasive approaches such as surgery or techniques including Radiofrequency Denervation might be employed to secure long-term amelioration of symptoms.
It’s critical to devise a personalized approach when addressing sacroiliac joint-related distress that considers your unique medical history and symptomatology to ensure the maximum effectiveness of treatment strategies deployed.
Prolotherapy
In recent years, prolotherapy has built its reputation within the medical community due to its clinically proven ability to treat Sacroiliac Joint Pain.
Published research has proven its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and regenerative benefits.
Prolotherapy involves injecting a natural regenerative solution with small needles. This has been shown to reduce swelling, which helps with Sacroiliac Joint Pain.
As prolotherapy is helping to treat the root cause of Sacroiliac Joint Pain, it is deemed to be a permanent fix, preventing the symptoms from returning.
Patient Consent and Information Sharing
Obtaining patient consent is a critical component of any medical treatment. It entails your entitlement to comprehensive information regarding the potential advantages and risks associated with the procedure and your voluntary agreement for the procedure to proceed. Consent can be given in several forms: orally, through written documentation, or via implied actions and usually needs to be provided before undergoing significant procedures.
In scenarios where an emergency arises, and you cannot consent due to incapacity, healthcare providers may administer necessary treatment based on what they consider most beneficial for you after consulting with family members.
It’s essential also to recognize that there are robust legal safeguards surrounding your personal health information. Whether stored electronically or on paper, strict protocols are implemented for anonymization so that such data cannot be traced directly to its source — ensuring that confidentiality remains intact.
Follow-up and Ongoing Care
Post-procedural care is as critical as the sacroiliac joint injection itself. Once you have undergone the procedure, here’s what to expect regarding aftercare.
- Your general practitioner will receive a letter outlining your post-procedure instructions and suggestions.
- You will be issued a letter with details of your review appointment.
- A follow-up evaluation will occur, which might happen over the phone or in person at the Pain Clinic to monitor your recovery progress.
Guidance on managing pain following your injection is provided by the Pain Service within the Outpatients Department via an informative leaflet given post-procedure. If any questions or concerns regarding pain medicine may arise during your recovery, specialist nurses from our pain management team are readily available for assistance through telephone or email communication.
Special Considerations for Diabetic Patients
For diabetic individuals, specific vital considerations must be considered when preparing for a sacroiliac joint injection. If your appointment is scheduled for the morning, refrain from eating breakfast and do not take your diabetes medications that day. Conversely, if you are scheduled for an afternoon session, ensure you eat breakfast and administer any diabetes medicines before 7:00 am.
It’s crucial to recognize that steroid injections administered into the sacroiliac joint may result in a marked increase in blood sugar levels on the day after they’re given. Those who manage their condition with insulin might see even more significant blood pressure elevations. Hence, monitoring of blood glucose during this time is essential.
Patients whose diabetes is not well-managed should exercise additional vigilance by checking their blood sugar repeatedly over two days post-procedure to prevent potential adverse effects.
Summary
In summary, gaining insights into the pain associated with the sacroiliac joint and exploring available treatment options can mark the beginning of your journey to improved health and well-being. Specifically, injections targeted at the sacroiliac joint provide considerable relief from pain along with diagnostic advantages. It’s essential to recognize that each individual requires a customized treatment plan suitable for their unique situation. Don’t allow pain to control your existence. Embark on your path towards alleviating discomfort now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What aggravates sacroiliac joint pain?
Activities such as sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping can exacerbate pain in the sacroiliac joint. Engaging in actions like ascending stairs or distributing weight unevenly across one leg can also intensify discomfort.
To control this pain efficiently, paying attention to these particular activities and other areas that may aggravate the joint is crucial.
How can I get immediate relief from SI joint pain?
To get immediate relief from SI joint pain, you can try resting, applying ice to your lower back or upper buttocks for 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day, and using over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate the pain.
Applying heat therapy may also help relax muscles and foster healing.
What not to do when you have sacroiliac pain?
Avoid physical activities that require twisting and turning at the hips, engaging in physical contact, or lifting heavy weights or objects to aid in healing your sacrum.
Will I ever get rid of my sacroiliac joint pain?
If you experience SI joint pain, it may alleviate itself through rest. Should the pain persist beyond three months, medical intervention should be pursued to establish the root cause, and suitable treatment is recommended.
Consulting with a doctor is crucial in managing your pain effectively and avoiding any potential worsening of the condition.
What is sacroiliac joint pain?
Pain in the sacroiliac joint manifests as discomfort in the lower back, thigh, groin, or buttocks and occurs at the joints at the bottom of the spine. This condition arises when these joints that transfer forces between the upper and lower bodies become problematic.