Spinal Injection Frequently Asked Questions

The following are commonly asked questions about what to expect about your spinal injection procedure. As you scroll down the list, simply click on the question and it will link you to the corresponding answer in the body of the text below. At the end of each question you will have the option to return back to the top of the page.

How does my procedure get scheduled?
Do I receive any instructions prior to my injection?
Can I eat before my appointment?
Do I take my daily medications?
I take blood-thinners every day. Do I continue to take these?
What do I need to do the day of my injection?
Can my family come with me when I meet the doctor before the procedure?
Can I drive myself home?
I normally use a walker to get around. Is this a problem?
Will I need medication for pain control after the procedure?
How will I feel after the procedure?
Are there any special instructions I need to follow after my injection?
How will I know when my next injection is?
I’m not having any pain. Do I still need to come for my second or third injection?
I have not had any relief from my last two injections. Should I come in for the third one?

How does my procedure get scheduled?
After you meet with one of our physicians, the physician will write an order to schedule your injections. A Concord Orthopaedics central scheduler will work with you to find an available time for your physician to do your procedure in the Orthopaedic Surgery Center in either Concord or Derry. Injections are typically scheduled in a series of three, usually one month apart. The central scheduler will notify you of the date for your procedure.

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Do I receive any instructions prior to my injection?
Two weeks prior to your scheduled injection an Orthopaedic Surgery Center nurse will call and review your medical history and notify you of the arrival time for your procedure. If we miss reaching you, please call us back at 603.228.7211 and let us know the best time and way to reach you in advance of your scheduled surgery date.

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Can I eat before my appointment?
You do not need to fast before your appointment. If you do eat prior to your appointment, we recommend a light meal, as you will be laying down for the procedure.

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Do I take my daily medications?
You should take your medications as you normally do. The only exception to this is you cannot ingest any blood-thinner medication. The nurse will review this with you during the telephone call approximately two weeks prior to the scheduled procedure.

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I take blood-thinners every day. Do I continue to take these?
Blood-thinners such as Coumadin®, Plavix® and Aggrenox® need to be stopped prior to your injection. You must get approval from your primary care physician to stop your blood-thinners for your injection. Some important guidelines to remember are:

• Coumadin needs to be stopped 3 days prior to your procedure.
• Plavix or Aggrenox needs to be stopped 5 days prior to your procedure.

You can resume your normal schedule of blood-thinners the evening of your injection. A nurse will review these instructions with you during the telephone interview.

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What do I need to do the day of my injection?
Here are some helpful guidelines to keep in mind on the day of your injection:

• Please make arrangements for someone to drive you home.
• Leave all valuables at home.
• Wear comfortable clothing so the doctor can easily access your lumbar or cervical area for the injection.
• If you are under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must accompany you.

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Can my family come with me when I meet the doctor before the procedure?
As a general rule, family members can wait for you in the waiting room areas designated at either location. Patient privacy is a priority.

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Can I drive myself home?
We strongly recommend that you have someone available to drive you home. If you are administered any kind of sedation prior to or during the injection procedure, you MUST have someone drive you.

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I normally use a walker to get around. Is this a problem?
If you normally use a walker, wheel chair or other assistive devices, we will have you lay down on a stretcher for comfort. Please be sure to bring your walker or wheelchair with you as you normally do. Our facilities are all American Disability Act compliant.

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Will I need medication for pain control after the procedure?
Pain medication is not required after the procedure. If you find that you are in need of medication for pain control, you will need to contact your primary care physician for this. Our physicians do not prescribe pain medications.

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How will I feel after the procedure?
It is not unusual to have no change in your pain level for a few days after your procedure.

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Are there any special instructions I need to follow after my injection?
Do NOT drive or operate other hazardous machinery for:

• 4 hours if you have not received sedation or
• 24 hours if you have received sedation

Call your physician if you notice a severe increase in pain. Some increase is normal for the first 72 hours. Only call if the pain is out of the ordinary.

Call the physician if you experience:

• Fever, chills and swelling at the injection site
• Increasing numbness or weakness in the legs or arms
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Severe headache

Take it easy for a few days. No vacuuming, raking, lawn work requiring machinery, shoveling, heavy lifting or twisting for three to four days. Do not perform any physical hobbies or exercises for the next 3-4 days.

• You can remove the Band-Aid® from the injection site the night of your injection.
• Take your usual pain medication.

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How will I know when my next injection is?
Generally, you will receive the dates for all three injections from the Concord Orthopaedics central scheduler. If your physician decides he wants you to receive an additional injection, or if you only received an appointment for one injection, you will receive an appointment card in the mail notifying you of your additional appointments. If you need assistance in scheduling your appointments, please call and speak to one to the Concord Orthopaedics central schedulers at 603.224.3368.

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I’m not having any pain. Do I still need to come for my second or third injection?
As a general rule, if you are not having pain, you can cancel your appointment. Please call and speak with your physician’s patient care coordinator at 603.224.3368.

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I have not had any relief from my last two injections. Should I come in for the third one?
If you have not had any relief from your injections, we suggest you call and speak with your physician at 603.224.3368. Together, you can determine any suggested next steps.

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