Please read over carefully. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURE PRE INJECTION INSTRUCTIONS

1. You may be required to hold your anti-coagulant/blood thinner prior to your procedure.  Contact the office with any questions.
2. No alcohol for 24 hours prior to the procedure.
3. If you have a previously documented iodine allergy, you must notify the staff.
4. If you have a latex allergy, you must notify the staff.
5. If you have an infection or are on any antibiotics, you need to inform the staff.
6. You must bring a driver to the procedure. If you are unable to arrange transportation, we may ask you to stay for 1-2 hours post-injection so we can monitor any side effects such as leg numbness.
7. Plan to arrive at the procedure 30 minutes prior to your scheduled time. Your appointment time will likely take one hour which includes 10-15 minutes for pre-injection care and monitoring and 5-10 minutes for the actual procedure as well as 20-30 minutes of rest after the procedure.
8. If you are diabetic and your blood sugars are running greater than 200, you need to inform the staff and your injection may be postponed. Be advised that your blood sugars may run slightly high up to three days after the injection.
9. You may have a normal breakfast and/or lunch prior to the injection procedure.
10. DO NOT stop taking any other medications other than those mentioned and described in instruction.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Keep the injection site dry until the band-aid is removed. The band-aid may be removed in 12-24 hours following the injection.
2. Ice may and should be applied to the injection site. If you experience soreness, you may apply an ice pack to the area for 20 minutes every two hours for the first 24 hours.
3. Occasionally you may experience pain after the injection. This should start to improve within 24-48 hours.
4. You may continue to take your pain medication as needed.
5. DO NOT stop taking any other medications previously prescribed (except sedative or sleeping agents which are recommended to be held for 24 hours post injection). You may resume anticoagulation meds the next day. If Coumadin, consult with your Primary Care Physician.
6. You should avoid any prolonged standing, walking, repetitive bending, or heavy lifting for 24-48 hours following the injection. Do not resume exercising until three to four days following the procedure.
7. Stay hydrated on the days following the injection. This involves drinking up to eight regular glasses of water per day.
8. If you should develop any other symptoms such as a temperature above 100 degrees, severe pain, severe headaches, weakness, observe excessive bleeding or continuous oozing from the injection site, passing of clots, bright red rectal bleeding of greater than one teaspoon, black tarry stools over the next 14 days, throat, chest, abdominal pain at any time, or a productive cough, please contact us during office hours. If you are unable to reach us, please contact the on-call physician or proceed to the nearest emergency room.
9. Consumption of alcoholic beverages or sleeping pills for the 24 hours after the injection is not recommended.

Before you are discharged, the doctor will give you instructions on his follow-up process for the injection in order to monitor the response from the procedure and for further recommendations.