Post Procedure Instructions
POST-PROCEDURE DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

AFTER A FACET INJECTION:
  1. You may feel better for a few hours due to the local anesthetic placed in the facet joint.
  2. The beneficial effects of the steroid may take 1-5 days to cause a reduction in symptoms.
  3. You may resume your pre-procedure medications and activity level.
CALL DR. VORSE IMMEDIATELY IF:
  1. You have any questions or concerns about the procedure.
  2. You have signs of infection at the site of the needle insertion.
  3. You develop a fever and/or increased back or neck pain.
  4. If you diabetes and are having difficulty controlling your blood sugars.
  5. You have excessive fluid retention.
GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM OR CALL 911 IF:
  1. You experience any of the above problems and cannot reach Dr. Vorse.
  2. You are experiencing an allergic reaction.
USUALLY 3 DAYS AFTER THE PROCEDURE PATIENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ASSESS WHETHER THE INJECTION HELPED REDUCE THEIR PAIN. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE YOURSELF AN OFFICE VISIT AND PRECIOUS TIME BY ASSESSING YOUR RESPONSE TO THE INJECTION AND CALLING THE OFFICE WITH A SPECIFIC MESSAGE.
  1. If you got complete and sustained relief of all your symptoms, call Dr Vorse’s office and leave a message with the office. Let us know if you have any questions about activity level and the need for physical therapy.
  2. If you got only partial relief or only temporary relief, call Dr Vorse’s office and leave a message. The office can check the OR schedule and call you back to discuss a repeat injection.
  3. If you did not experience even temporary relief, you may need a repeat injection, or to undergo a different injection, or be re-evaluated by Dr Vorse. Please call Dr Vorse’s office and leave a detailed message that you have not yet experienced any change in symptoms. We will inform you of the doctor’s recommendations (such as wait a few more days to see if you do get a benefit, schedule an appointment for re-evaluation, try the same or a different block, or schedule an office evaluation with Dr. Vorse for other pain management options).