Image guided injection
· Why have an Image Guided Injection?
Your doctor has requested an injection of medication into a specific location. The purpose is to reduce the inflammation and swelling, providing improved movement and pain relief to the affected area.
The injection is performed under imaging guidance to ensure accurate injection into the correct location for maximum effect.
The radiologist will discuss the procedure and decide the method of imaging guidance, either fluoroscopy, ultrasound or CT.
· Preparation
- fast for 2 hours prior to the procedure
- Take medications as usual with water, unless you are told to stop particular medications at the time of appointment
- Bring your medicare card and any previous films.
- If you are diabetic, you may need to see your doctor regarding medication with steroid administration.
· The Procedure
- Once you have registered, you may be taken through to a cubicle to change into a gown, depending on the location of the injection.
- The doctor will speak to you about the procedure and ask you to sign a consent form.
- You will be taken into the imaging room and positioned for the procedure.
- Imaging will be performed to locate the best entry point for the needle.
- The skin will then be cleaned with antiseptic solution and a drape placed.
- Local anaesthetic may be injected under the skin.
- The needle is then placed and may need to be repositioned several times before injection of a mixture of anaesthetic and steroid.
· After the Procedure
- If you are having an epidural or nerve root block, you may experience some numbness and weakness in the first hour after the procedure, as well as reduction in the pain you have been experiencing. This is due to the local anaesthetic numbing the nerves at the site where the medication was injected and is commonly experienced by patients. This is usually a good sign, as it demonstrates the medication has been delivered close to the cause of the pain and is likely to provide good relief.
Your doctor has requested an injection of medication into a specific location. The purpose is to reduce the inflammation and swelling, providing improved movement and pain relief to the affected area.
The injection is performed under imaging guidance to ensure accurate injection into the correct location for maximum effect.
The radiologist will discuss the procedure and decide the method of imaging guidance, either fluoroscopy, ultrasound or CT.
· Preparation
- fast for 2 hours prior to the procedure
- Take medications as usual with water, unless you are told to stop particular medications at the time of appointment
- Bring your medicare card and any previous films.
- If you are diabetic, you may need to see your doctor regarding medication with steroid administration.
· The Procedure
- Once you have registered, you may be taken through to a cubicle to change into a gown, depending on the location of the injection.
- The doctor will speak to you about the procedure and ask you to sign a consent form.
- You will be taken into the imaging room and positioned for the procedure.
- Imaging will be performed to locate the best entry point for the needle.
- The skin will then be cleaned with antiseptic solution and a drape placed.
- Local anaesthetic may be injected under the skin.
- The needle is then placed and may need to be repositioned several times before injection of a mixture of anaesthetic and steroid.
· After the Procedure
- If you are having an epidural or nerve root block, you may experience some numbness and weakness in the first hour after the procedure, as well as reduction in the pain you have been experiencing. This is due to the local anaesthetic numbing the nerves at the site where the medication was injected and is commonly experienced by patients. This is usually a good sign, as it demonstrates the medication has been delivered close to the cause of the pain and is likely to provide good relief.
- The local anaesthetic will wear off within 1-2 hours and pain will often resume or become a little worse.
- The steroid part of the injection generally does not start taking effect until near the end of day two after the procedure.
- The effect of the steroid improves over the next 4-5 days, until it is at maximum effect at around 7-10 days.
- Most patients have good relief from the injection for 6-8 weeks and often for longer. A few patients have a shorter period of relief.
- Re-injection can be performed, but it usually advised for there to be a 3 month interval between injections.
Pain Diary
- You may be given a pain diary to fill out after the procedure. This is helpful for the referrer to get a better idea of how well the injection helped with your pain and discomfort. This is particularly helpful if there are multiple sites that need injection over a few weeks.
- The steroid part of the injection generally does not start taking effect until near the end of day two after the procedure.
- The effect of the steroid improves over the next 4-5 days, until it is at maximum effect at around 7-10 days.
- Most patients have good relief from the injection for 6-8 weeks and often for longer. A few patients have a shorter period of relief.
- Re-injection can be performed, but it usually advised for there to be a 3 month interval between injections.
Pain Diary
- You may be given a pain diary to fill out after the procedure. This is helpful for the referrer to get a better idea of how well the injection helped with your pain and discomfort. This is particularly helpful if there are multiple sites that need injection over a few weeks.