Q: Are these Interventional procedures safe?
A: Of course, interventional pain management procedures are generally safe when performed by fellowship-trained physicians with skill and experience. Patients must be aware of the potential risks and complications inherent in any medical procedure, including infection, bleeding, nerve damage, and allergic reactions to medications.
Q: What should I expect during the procedure?
A: All procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can go home the same day. The specific steps may vary depending on the procedure, but generally:
Pre-Procedure: You may be asked to avoid certain medications for a week to ten days before certain injections or procedures. An example would be where we ask you to avoid anti-inflammatory medications before having an epidural steroid injection. This is to decrease the risk of bleeding.
During Procedure: One of our staff members will escort you into our sterile procedure rooms and get you ready. You’ll lie on a table, and the area of your body receiving the procedure will be carefully sterilized. We do this to prevent infection and to keep you safe. Local anesthesia will be used to ensure your comfort. For most procedures, I use imaging guidance called fluoroscopy (live X-ray) to accurately target the treatment area. I may use contrast agent to help me pinpoint the specific location to place medication or for instrument guidance. I will talk to you throughout, letting you know what I am doing and checking on your comfort during the procedure.
Post-Procedure: For your safety, we require that you stay in our office to be monitored for a short time before being discharged. Although very rare, we watch for allergic reactions to medications used during the procedure. For many of our procedures, we require someone to drive you home afterwards. This is for your safety, as we often use numbing medications which can impair your function, cause weakness and loss of sensation. The procedures themselves may sometimes cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Even if patients report feeling fine, we’d rather err on the side of caution.
At Home: Depending on the procedure you have, you’ll be given a sheet of instructions for at home care. With most interventions, you should expect a little soreness and discomfort at the injection/procedure site. We recommend intermittent icing, the use of Tylenol and rest for a day or two. Submerging for a bath in a tub, hot tub or pool will often be discouraged for a few days, but showering is fine.
The instructions will also tell you how to reach me if you have a complication after your procedure or when to head directly to the ER for a more serious issue.
Q: Are there any side effects?
A: Most side effects are mild and temporary, such as soreness at the injection/procedure site, bruising, or minor bleeding. Steroid injections can cause headaches, insomnia, flushing, hot flashes and a rash. Serious side effects are rare but can include infection, nerve damage, or adverse reactions to medications. I will talk about these potential risks and benefits before the procedure, and you can decide if these are acceptable.
Q: How soon will I feel relief?
A: That depends. Often the numbing medication administered at the time of the procedure provides some pain relief, but that typically wears off in a few hours. Lasting pain relief varies depending on the procedure and the individual patient. It could be immediate, take a few days or weeks, or you may not see much relief at all. A series of treatments may be necessary to achieve optimal results with some conditions.
Q: How long will the relief last?
A: It varies with the patient, procedure and condition. You can expect long-term relief from some and other procedures will need to be repeated at regular intervals. Every patient is different, and it is hard to predict individual responses.