Before The Procedure

Food:
Avoid eating anything 6 hours before your planned procedure.
This may not be necessary if you are sure you are not having sedation.

Drink:
Clear fluid (water) may be consumed up to 2 hours before a procedure.

Should I stop my medication?
Ordinarily No. It would be usual to take all you prescription medicines at the usual times with a sip of water.
If you are in doubt over medication (e.g. diabetic medicines or below) please ask the team.

Some medications should ordinarily be stopped before the procedure;
Aspirin (325mg+) 4-5days
Aspirin (75mg) may be continued.
Anti- inflammatory 48 hours (e.g. diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen)
Anticoagulants. inform the team (e.g. warfarin)

When should I arrive?
Please arrive in plenty of time, as ordinarily you will need to check in with the hospital even if you have been to that particular
hospital before. We suggest 1 hour before the planned start time.

You will be asked to sign a consent form. This is a further opportunity to discuss aspects of the procedure. Whilst these
procedures are safe, all aspects of medicine carries risk and should be discussed.

You will be accompanied to the theatre or XR suite where the procedures are undertaken. If you wish you could have some one you know come along too, but they would not be able to stay with you for the procedure.

The Procedure
Do I need a general anaesthetic?
No, most of these procedures can be safely carried out with local anaesthetic & sedation if required.

What is in the injections?
Local anaesthetic is given to numb the area.
Usually a combination of long acting local anaesthetic and /or steroids are used for the procedures.

How are the procedures done?
These procedures are ordinarily carried out with X-Ray or ultrasound. (if you think you may be pregnant please inform the team). A special form of XR (fluoroscopy) is used to provide live x-ray screening. This means the injection and needles can be constantly monitored throughout the procedure.

How long do the procedures take?
Procedures ordinarily take between 20-60minutes.

What are the risks?
These types of minimally invasive procedures are extremely safe. All interventions do carry a small risk but serious complications are rare. Neurological complications are very rare. They are quoted in the literature and by professional bodies at about 1 in 10,000 cases.

Following The Procedure
You will return to the room or waiting area. You may have a drink and some food. A nurse will review your discharge instructions with you before you go home.

When can I expect to go home?
Ordinarily 60-90minutes after the procedure. This may be slightly longer if you are feeling sleepy with sedation.

If I have a sedative how long does it last?
Every one is different but ordinarily these would expect to have an effect for only a few hours. Exceptionally in a small number of people the effect may last up to 48hours.

Do I need some one to take me home?
Yes, ordinarily ensure some one can escort you home and be with you for the following 12 hours. This may not always be the case depending on the procedure.

Can I drive after the procedure?
You should not expect to drive after the procedure until the next day. This may not always be the case depending on the procedure.

Could I go back to work?
Whilst not always the case, expect to take the rest of the day easy. For some procedures you could return to your normal activities on the day

Whan can I expect to return to normal activities?
You should be able to return to work and normal domestic activities the following day.

Should I avoid lifting anything heavy?
Avoid heavy lifting or manoeuvres that may aggravate your pain for a day or two after the injections. You may
experience discomfort for a few days following the procedure, usually due to reactive muscle spasm, however this is
unusual.

When can I exercise or visit the physiotherapist?
Exercise is a vital component in keeping your spine healthy. These procedures are normally combined with exercises to improve strength, movement and balance. Ordinarily you could go back to exercising or phyiotherapy 4 days after the procedure.

When will the injections start to work?
Ordinarily we would like to know how you are progressing 48 hours after the procedure.
If the procedure is diagnostic or in part diagnostic it is important to record the effects in the first few hours.