2 questions about sacroiliac joint sprain.?!

2 questions about sacroiliac joint sprain.?

i suffered a SI sprain about a month ago. eventually went to MD who gave me Rx anti-inflammatory. he said if that didnt' work, he could give me a shot directly in the joint.
First question is: the pain has gotten so much better, not sharp and shooting anymore. but now it constantly feels like a stiff muscle in the lower back, that I constantly need to stretch. is that a normal part of the healing process?
Secondly: I am supposed to be trainig for a competition. the training involves running. would it be beneficial to get the shot at this point so I can return to normal activities. I have not run in a month but really feel nervous about the trainig. But, i don't want to make things worse. Please respond if med professional or had similar experience. thanks

i would suggest that you get some physical therapy, since you have the muscle tightness going on in your back, PT would benefit for you. I would call your Doctor and see if he would recommend that as well. As for the shot, you should never get a cortosone shot before you do a straining activity,
Cortisone is not a pain relieving medication, it only treats the inflammation. When pain is decreased from cortisone it is because the inflammation is diminished. By injecting the cortisone into the area of the inflammation, very high concentrations of the medication can be given while keeping potential side-effects to a minimum. if you do strenuous activities right after the shot, it can cause problems and you could potential injure yourself worse than before, and could cause long term issues. I wish you good luck with the running. but you may want to take it easy for a little bit and try to get some kind of therapy