Sacroiliac joint injections: Costs, Recovery, Stats & What to Expect — A Pain Management Guide
November 21, 2025 · by the Help Me Find A Doctor editorial team
Stats refreshed August 2026
Everything patients ask about sacroiliac joint injections — how it works, who it's for, typical recovery, costs, risks, and how to choose the right pain management specialist. Diagnostic and therapeutic for SI joint dysfunction.
Interventional and medical approaches to chronic pain. Below: the procedures patients ask about most, the numbers that put the field in context, and the questions worth raising at a first consultation with a pain management specialist.
Top procedures & treatments
Sacroiliac joint injections
Diagnostic and therapeutic for SI joint dysfunction.
Epidural steroid injections
For lumbar radiculopathy and cervical disc disease.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Long-term relief for facet-mediated spine pain — typically 6–18 months per treatment.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
Implantable neuromodulation for refractory neuropathic pain.
Comprehensive medical pain management
Multimodal therapy reducing opioid dependence.
By the numbers
Updated August 2026- Approximately 9.1 million epidural steroid injections are performed annually in the U.S. for lumbar and cervical radiculopathy (ASRA Pain Medicine, 2025).
- Utilization of Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for chronic facet joint pain has grown by 12% year-over-year as an alternative to long-term opioid use (AAPM, 2026).
- Over 50,000 Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) devices are implanted annually in the U.S. to manage refractory chronic pain syndromes (ASPS, 2025).
- Chronic pain affects roughly 20.9% of U.S. adults, driving a significant increase in demand for interventional pain management procedures (CDC, 2024).
Trending this month: Patients in 2026 are increasingly opting for Radiofrequency Ablation and Spinal Cord Stimulation as they seek long-term, non-opioid solutions for chronic back and joint pain, prioritizing minimally invasive interventions that offer sustained functional recovery.
How to choose the right specialist
Verify board certification, ask how many of your specific procedure the clinician performs each year, and review patient outcomes — not just star ratings. A pain management provider who clearly explains your options, the evidence, and the realistic recovery timeline is worth more than the most heavily advertised name.
Use our directory to filter pain management specialists by city, then bring this article (and the FAQ below) to your consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be prescribed opioids?
Modern pain management emphasizes multimodal care; opioids are reserved for specific scenarios with careful monitoring.
Are injections safe?
When performed under image guidance by board-certified pain physicians, complication rates are low.
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