Lateral Branch Blocks
To successfully diagnose sacroiliac joint pain, we temporarily block the nerves associated with sacroiliac joint discomfort with a local anaesthetic.
Lateral Branch Blocks are performed by an anaesthetist injecting a small dose, under x-ray guidance to provide light sedation. The local anaesthetic is placed under the sacrum (tailbone) where the lateral branch nerves are located.
If your pain significantly alleviates over the period of treatments given, it is safe to diagnose the sacroiliac joint as the site of its origin. Once diagnosed, your doctor will consider longer-lasting treatments to further alleviate sacroiliac joint pain.
Following initial treatments, we may ask you to keep a “Pain Diary” to record the effectiveness of treatments following the procedure.
Disclaimer
The contents contained within this page are not a substitute for health professionals’ advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We advise that you seek advice from a qualified healthcare practitioner. We fully disclose that any surgical or invasive procedures come with risks.
For more details on how to relieve or treat chronic pain, you can reach out to one of our pain specialists at any of our pain care clinic locations. We establish a caring relationship and provide patients with pain relief when needed the most.