Pre-surgical center instructions for those undergoing I.V. Sedation for the following procedures:
Back or neck pain accompanied by radiating pain to the legs or arms is often linked to inflammation at the nerve roots located in your spine.
Epidural Steroid Injection is performed to place steroid (anti-inflammatory) medication directly at the source of inflammation and irritation to relieve the pain or radicular symptoms you are currently experiencing.
Strengthening abdominal muscles, weight loss, exercise, or physical therapy may also be necessary to your pain management program.
"What about steroid side effects?" The purpose of this injection is to avoid those side effects. Placing a small amount of steroid medication at the exact spot where it is needed negates the requirement of giving a large oral dose, hoping it gets to your back.
Common side effects include:
If you have diabetes, you should monitor glucose levels closely.
This surgery is an outpatient procedure, typically performed in the office. When a patient requires IV sedation, we perform procedures at an outpatient surgical center.
The duration of the procedure is approximately 10 minutes. Before the injection, the skin is cleansed with an antiseptic solution and numbed with local anesthetic injection. For correct placement into the epidural space, utilization of fluoroscopic guidance assists with the injection of the steroid solution. A small bandage will cover the injection site upon the conclusion of the procedure. Please remove it within 24 hours.
A maximum of three injections spaced about a week to two weeks apart have typically proven effective in providing long-lasting pain relief.
These instructions are for procedures done at our Fluoroscopy Suite, not the surgical center.
Post Procedure Instructions for:
Following your procedure, please follow these instructions:
*These side effects are to be expected and should not be cause for concern.
If you experience any of the following symptoms within 48 hours after today’s procedure, please call the office at 877-87 DR JIM (877-873-7546)
To minimize the risk of bleeding during interventional spinal procedures, Anticoagulants, Antiplatelet drugs, and Blood Thinners must be discontinued.
You must consult with your cardiologist, primary care physician, or prescribing physician before discontinuing any of these medications and obtain approval and clearance for you to stop these medications temporarily. You may restart the day following (24 hours) the procedure unless otherwise noted.