PAIN MANAGEMENT
What is Pain Management?
Interventional pain management is a dedicated area of medicine that uses minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat chronic pain, aiming to relieve discomfort, improve function, and enhance quality of life.
Using fluoroscopy and ultrasound our team of pain management professionals, pinpoint a specific area of concern that you and your physician have determined is the main cause for your pain. Our goal is to use injections to directly target the nerves and tissues responsible, rather than solely relying on prescribed medications.
How To Prepare
Medications – Prior to your appointment, decrease any pain medications you may be taking regularly to allow enough discomfort to verify if the procedure has been successful in relieving your symptoms.
For epidural procedures please discontinue the use of anticoagulation drugs (including ASA) for 7 days prior to the day of your scheduled appointment. As well suspend use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 3 days.
Patients receiving any corticosteroid injection must be infection free and have completed any course of antibiotics 1 week prior to injection.
Please schedule all pain management appointments either two weeks before or after any vaccine appointment.
Two weeks before epidural appointments, a nurse will contact you to ensure that you are aware of all necessary restrictions. For any questions or concerns, our team is available any time Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 4:00pm to ensure you are prepared for your exam.
Transportation – If you are having an epidural, or an injection involving the neck or head, we require you to arrange for transportation. Driving is not permitted for 4-8 hours following these procedures due to the potential for numbness in limbs. Your appointment will be rescheduled if a driver is not present at the time of your appointment. Alternatively, public transportation may be utilized, if necessary.
What To Expect
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to allow time to fill out the required forms. One of our team members will discuss these forms with you, explain the procedure and answer any questions you may have.
Please do not bring any children that require supervision.
You may be required to change into a clinic provided gown to ensure sterility throughout the procedure.
Post-Procedure Instructions
You may continue your regular activities but avoid strenuous activities for 24 hours.
Avoid heating pads and hot tubs for the first 24 hours, if you experience an increase in pain, ice, rest and your regular pain medications are recommended.
Driving is not permitted for 4-8 hours for those patients having epidural injections, or injections of the neck or head.
Watch for signs of infection: redness, swelling, heat, tenderness or oozing of the injection site. If this occurs, contact your family doctor.
Diabetics who regularly monitor their blood sugar levels, may see an increase for 2-3 days.
FAQ
How long does it take for the injection to work?
A cortisone injection can take up to 7 days to take effect
How long will the injection last?
Relief may last 3-6 months, some have reported having results for up to a year.
How many injections can I have?
A patient can have 4 injections in a specific area in a 12-month period. A waiting period of 3 months must occur between injections. Your ordering physician will determine if repeating this injection is right for you.
I had my injection yesterday and today I am in more pain than I was before. Is something wrong?
This is a Cortisone Flare, unfortunately it is common with cortisone injections and there is no way for us to prevent it. Ice, rest and your regular pain medication should help with the symptoms which should subside in a day or two. If you do not have relief after 48 hours, please contact your family physician.
Are there are costs involved with Pain Management injections or are they covered by Alberta Health Care?
- Procedures ordered by your family physician or specialist are fully covered by Alberta Health Care at this time. Injections ordered by a chiropractor will need to be paid for by the patient.
- The medications are mostly provided by BGSA with the exception of any viscosupplementation such as Synvisc, Neovisc, Orthovisc, Cingal and Durolane.