Post-Procedure & Follow-up Instructions

Day of the Procedure:

• It is recommended that you lie down and rest at home for at least 2 hours immediately after the procedure.
• Plan to rest and relax for the first 24 hours after the injection in a reclined position.
• Limit walking or sitting to 10-20 minutes at a time.
• You may resume all medications as previously prescribed.
• You may remove the dressing/band-aid later that night.
• You may apply an ice-pack to the injection site for up to 20 minute intervals as needed to reduce discomfort.
• Avoid Heat to the injection site for 3 days.
• Typically, most patients get satisfactory relief of post-procedure discomfort with Tylenol, Advil or Aleve.
• Prescription medications are not typically required for this procedure, but can be called in (during business hours) to your pharmacy if necessary for severe pain.
• Do not drive on the day of the injection.

Resuming Work Activities:

• The majority of patients can resume work 1-3 days following the injection. Majority of patients return to work the day after the procedure. A work excuse can be provided upon request.
• Limit lifting to 5-10 pounds for the first week and then increase as tolerated.
• Limit excessive bending, twisting, reaching, climbing or crawling for 1 week.

Resuming Physical Therapy:

• Formal Physical Therapy may resume or begin 1 week following the procedure.
• Therapy should focus on gentle stretch exercises and massage initially.
• No chiropractic manipulations, decompression therapy or inversion traction for 2 weeks following the procedure.

Resuming Exercise:

• No exercise for 5 days after the procedure.
• If still having pain at 5 days, do not begin exercise until pain free for 2 straight days.
• When beginning exercise, low impact activities are recommended, including stationary bike, elliptical, swimming, and walking.
• Avoid any running for 2 weeks after the procedure and progress slowly from a walk to light jog to run as tolerated. NOTE: Running is a high impact activity and places 3-4 times your body weight on each leg at impact causing significant stress on the discs. Up to 80-90% of the running population reports back pain at some time during their training. So, proceed with caution.
• You may return to light stretching and light weights at 1 week following the procedure, with great care to avoid lumbar stressing exercises (i.e. squats, lunges, clean and jerks, military press).

Following your procedure, SpineGroup Alabama's plan for you is:

If not improved after one week, then call the office at (205) 271-6511 to schedule a repeat injection or office visit.

Common Side Effects:

• Increase in normal pain for up to 1 week
• Restlessness/nervousness for up to 3 days
• Low grade fever (<100 degrees)
• Increased appetite
• Increased blood glucose (sugar) levels in diabetics (please monitor closely)
• Flushing / redness for up to 3 days which improves with Benadryl
• Increased water retention (mild swelling in the hands or feet)
• Steroid headache which can last up to 1 week

If you experience any of these common side effects from steroid injections there should be no cause for concern.

Rare Side Effects:

• Redness, swelling or drainage at the injection site
• Fever above 100.4 degrees with chills
• Severe positional headache that improves by lying down
• An increase in numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
• Changes in bowel or bladder function

If you experience any of the rare side effects after your injection, please call the office at (205) 271-6511.

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