How is the Cortisone Injected into the Joint?

To do the injection, doctors often use two medicines.  

1.    Lidocaine or marcaine—numbs the area & takes away the pain (similar to the novocaine from your friendly dentist).  

2.    Cortisone—reduces pain and inflammation.

Doctors inject these medicines directly into the SI joint. If the pain goes away, the SI joint was inflamed.

The SI joint is deeper in the body than most joints.  Because it is a deep joint, some doctors use a special X-Ray procedure called Fluoroscopy.  This procedure helps make sure the cortisone injection is in the right place.  Doctors can do this at a surgical center or hospital.