[Maria]

Hi Km1
I'd go ahead w/the suggestion of the ESIs because they can be done w/fluroscopy or guided now that you're not pregnant and you can be given some sedation before and during and ask the doctor performing it if he can inject the site w/Marcaine afterwards if you're not allergic to the canies (like lidocaine).

It may be a certain approach that would help one better than another. I think I got L5S1 done in two approaches with the one being caudal which was less helpful to me tho still way more helpful than not getting the ESI at all.

I used to have alot of SI joint pain as well tho after a certain number of ESIs that seemed to have gone away.. (I had 10 years worth).

The other thing you can do is consult with a Pain Management doctor and/or see another neurosurgeon or osteopathic spine specialist and see what they recommend.

Really sorry to read that you're having so much pain. I had these problems since I was in my late 20's and just didn't have kids because my reproductive years were filled with too much pain and two spine surgeries which didn't help me and the latter one making me much worse. That's not to say spine surgery can't be helpful tho in my situation what was done the 2nd time made everything much much worse.

take care and welcome to the forum ~ Maria