ÄÛBÑо¿Ôº

Our physicians may sometimes recommend an injection as a procedure option to help with your recovery from your pain. The following are some of the types of injections that are performed by our fellowship-trained and board-certified pain physiatrists:

• Epidural steroid injections targeted to the spine to reduce inflammation and relieve pain
• Facet joint and facet nerve injections for back or neck pain
• Joint Injections to reduce inflammation and relieve pain in joints such as the hip, knee, and shoulder
• Occipital nerve injections for headaches and occipital neuralgia
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections for low back or buttock pain
• Sympathetic ganglion injections for chronic nerve pain
• Trigger point injections to relieve muscle knots, usually in the upper back and neck

View More Pain Procedure Options

A spinal injection is an outpatient procedure. Before your injection, your healthcare provider will review your medical history, medications, symptoms and physical examination to determine the most appropriate procedure for you. You also will receive specific instructions about how to prepare for your procedure.

Here are a few important things to keep in mind before your appointment:

• Please let us know if your health changes. If you develop a fever, cold, flu, respiratory illness, infection or other significant change in your health before your procedure, contact our office. Your procedure may need to be postponed until you have recovered.
• Bring your imaging when requested. If your physician has asked you to provide MRI or CT studies, please bring the imaging studies (the actual images) and reports to your appointment. If your imaging is available electronically through your health system, please make sure your physician can access it before your procedure.
• Review your medications with your healthcare provider. Certain medications may need to be adjusted or temporarily stopped before or after your procedure because they can increase bleeding risk or affect the safety of the procedure. These may include anticoagulants, antiplatelet medications, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and certain supplements. Do not stop any medication on your own. Your healthcare team will provide specific instructions based on the procedure you are having and your individual medical history.
• If you have diabetes, please notify our office before your procedure. Some procedures and medications, particularly corticosteroids, may temporarily affect blood glucose levels. Call 312.238.7729 before your appointment for specific instructions if you have diabetes.
• Follow your procedure-specific instructions. Instructions regarding eating and drinking, medications, and whether you need a driver will depend on the type of procedure and whether sedation is planned. Please follow the instructions provided by your healthcare team.

The procedure is usually brief. You will be positioned carefully to allow the procedure to be performed safely and accurately. Monitoring devices may be used to check your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level and breathing during the procedure.

After the procedure, you will be escorted to a recovery area and monitored until you are ready for discharge. The amount of time you spend in recovery will depend on the type of procedure and whether sedation was used.

Your response to an injection varies depending on the type of procedure and the underlying cause of your pain. Some patients experience improvement immediately, while for others it may take several days for the medication to take effect.

It is possible to experience a temporary increase in pain or soreness after the procedure. If a corticosteroid was used, you may also experience temporary side effects such as facial flushing, difficulty sleeping or a temporary increase in blood glucose. These effects are generally temporary.

Your healthcare team will provide you with specific instructions regarding activity, medications, and when to contact the office after your procedure.

Contact the Pain Management Center at 312.238.7800 if you experience:

• Increasing or severe pain that is not improving or is significantly different from your usual pain
• Increasing redness, swelling, warmth, drainage, or bleeding at the injection site
• Fever or chills
• New or worsening numbness, tingling, or weakness
• New or worsening pain, particularly pain that radiates into an arm or leg
• Persistent headache, particularly a severe headache that is worse when sitting or standing
• Any other concerning or unexpected symptoms following your procedure

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately if you develop:

• New or rapidly worsening weakness or inability to move an arm or leg
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• New numbness in the groin, genital or inner-thigh area
• Severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting or loss of consciousness
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction, including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat or difficulty breathing
• Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms that concern you

If you are unsure whether a symptom is related to your procedure, please contact the Pain Management Center at 312.238.7800 or seek medical attention.

Our Pain Management Center will work with your physician or healthcare provider to help facilitate your referral and/or to schedule an evaluation.

• Patients should call 312.238.7800 to learn more and to schedule an appointment.
• For external referring providers, fax order to 312.238.7881 and our Pain Management Center will reach out to the patient to schedule a physician evaluation.