I am also scheduled for a diagnostice cortizone shot in both si joints. I am very leary of this procedure because my pm doctor is just guessing it might be my si joints. He did a lower luraber nerve diagnostice test and found out I don't have any nerves being pinched. I had this done with fluroscope and it was very painful. I didn't have any sedation. I have pain in my lower back and hips. I have mild and moderate degeneration of facet joints, L3 L4 L5. He said this means I have arthritis in between the facet joints. I had prolotherapy and that helped a lot until I had an auto accident. After the accident, everything really flared up. My Dr. is perflexed because he doesn't know where the pain is coming from. I'm afraid the cortizone might destroy the bone and tissue and make things worse. From what I understand, the cortizone is just a placebo. The pain must be horrible since he is adding sedation this time. I don't know if it will be an IV or medication. After 2 years of chronic pain, I am just about at the end of my rope. All I did initially was bend over and felt a hot tear in my lower back. From there everything just esculated. I also have spondy at L5-S1 but the Drs. do not seem to be concerned about that. I am at grad 1. Sorry for the rarabling, but I am just trying to get some feedback from other people's experiences. I have only seen this pm Dr. 2 times so it is not as if he really knows me. Thanks a bunch and I understand all your pain.