For your safety, do NOT eat anything for at least 6 hours prior to the time of your procedure. You may have water up to 2 hours prior to the time of your procedure. If these precautions are not followed your procedure will be rescheduled.
Continue all of your usual medications as prescribed unless you are taking blood thinners or insulin. You may take your morning medications with a sip of water.
If you have diabetes, please inform your pain management physician or nurse about your required diet and insulin. If your procedure is scheduled prior to noon, HOLD your morning insulin dose. If your procedure is scheduled after noon, take half of your morning insulin dose. Make sure you eat a light meal 6 hours prior to your procedure. Please bring your insulin with you.
If you are taking blood thinners such as Coumadin, Asprin, Plavix, Lovenox or any other blood thinner please be sure to ask the physician who prescribes this medication if they feel it is safe for you to discontinue them for a short time before your injection.
- If you are taking Coumadin, you must stop this medication 5 days prior to your procedure, with approval of the prescribing physician.
- If you are taking Plavix, you must stop 7 days prior to your procedure, with approval of the prescribing physician.
- If you are taking Lovenox, you must stop 24 hours prior to procedure, with approval of the prescribing physician.
- If your procedure requires sedation you must have a driver. We cannot release you to a cab or public transportation. Special Transit Services (STS) is allowed.
- Wear comfortable clothing and low heeled shoes.
- Please leave jewelry and other valuables at home.
- If you arrive 30 minutes later than your scheduled procedure time your procedure may be delayed or cancelled.
- If you need to cancel your procedure please call 416-7246.
During Your Procedure:
- You will have an IV started.
- Your blood pressure, pulse, and respirations will be monitored.
- You may need to change into a gown for your procedure
- Your doctor may prescribe sedation to help reduce discomfort and anxiety.
- Your doctor will give you a local anesthetic (numbing medication) at the injection site.
- Your procedure may last anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending upon the procedure. Please expect the entire process from check in to discharge will be 2 hours.
- Your family may wait for you in the waiting room.
After Your Procedure:
- You will remain in the recovery room approximately 20-30 minutes after your procedure.
- Your blood pressure, pulse and respirations will be monitored while in the recovery room.
- Some side effects may occur. The nursing staff will go over these with you prior to your discharge.
After Discharge from the Surgical Facility:
- Do not operate a vehicle or heavy machinery 24 hours after you have had sedation.
- Pain relief may occur immediately after the procedure, but may also take several days. In addition, a few days of soreness after the procedure are normal. It is important to understand that some procedures take several days to effectively relieve pain.
- We suggest applying ice to injection sites 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for the first 24 hours. This may be helpful for post procedural pain.
- You may notice some drainage at the injection site. This is normal.
- Please notify your doctor if you begin to run fever over 101 degrees.