Dr. Samer Abdel-Aziz
The sacroiliac joint, which connects the lower part of the spine to the pelvis, is considered one of the main sources of lower back pain. Studies indicate that 20-30% of people suffering from chronic back pain have the sacroiliac joint as the source of their pain. Unlike most joints, the sacroiliac joint typically has little to no movement, but an injury or dysfunction in the joint can lead to chronic pain.
Treatment usually begins with medications and physical therapy. If the pain persists, interventional procedures are considered, including:
How is Cortisone Injected into the Joint?
In our interventional procedure room, you will be assisted in lying on your stomach on the operating table. The injection site on your lower back will then be sterilized. Using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, a needle is carefully inserted into the sacroiliac joint. Once the precise position of the needle is confirmed, the medication is injected, and the needle is then removed.
After the procedure, a nurse will provide you with post-procedure instructions, and you will be able to leave the clinic.
Improvement may not be immediate—you may start noticing relief after a few days. In some cases, there may be no improvement. A nurse will follow up with you after a few days to check on your condition and provide any necessary advice.
When and How is Radiofrequency Ablation Performed for the Sacroiliac Joint?
In cases where pain relief after sacroiliac joint injection is short-lived, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can be considered to destroy the nerves responsible for transmitting pain from the posterior part of the joint, potentially leading to longer-lasting relief.
In our interventional procedure room, you will be assisted in lying on your stomach on the operating table. The injection site on your lower back will be sterilized, and the skin will be numbed with a local anesthetic. Using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, specialized needles with heated tips are inserted near the targeted nerves. Once their precise position is confirmed, the needle tips are heated to 80°C using the radiofrequency generator for 90 seconds to ablate the nerves after numbing them locally.
After the procedure, a nurse will provide post-procedure instructions, and you will be able to leave the clinic.
You may experience some back pain after the procedure, which typically improves within two days. However, you can resume your daily activities immediately.
What are the Chances of Pain Relief After Radiofrequency Ablation? Is the Relief Permanent?
Radiofrequency ablation of the sacroiliac joint does not completely numb the joint, as it only targets the nerves supplying the posterior part of the joint. The anterior nerves cannot be reached with this procedure. Therefore, pain relief is most effective in patients whose primary source of pain originates from the posterior part of the joint—this applies to 50% or fewer of patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Pain relief typically lasts 6 to 15 months, but it is not permanent. The pain usually returns within a year as the nerves regenerate, requiring a repeat radiofrequency procedure for continued relief.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Radiofrequency Ablation?
Every medical procedure or medication carries some risks. At our clinic, we use the safest techniques in all our procedures, and the likelihood of complications after radiofrequency ablation is very low.
Potential risks include:
For pregnant women, there is a risk to the fetus due to the use of X-ray guidance, so the procedure is postponed until after childbirth.
We have contracts with some insurance companies in Jordan and try our best to have the cost of the procedures covered by insurance.
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Steroid (Cortisone) Injection in the Cervical Spine