After Your Injection

Recovery advice following your pain procedure

Most pain injections and minimally invasive procedures are well tolerated, and many patients return home shortly after treatment. This page explains what you can expect during your recovery, how to look after yourself afterwards, and when you should seek medical advice.

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Your recovery will depend on the type of procedure you have had, but the following information applies to most spinal and joint injections performed in my practice. Any specific instructions for your treatment will be discussed with you before you leave

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Immediately After Your Procedure

You will usually spend a short period in the recovery area before going home.

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Before you leave, we'll make sure you are:

• Feeling well

• Able to walk safely (where appropriate)

• Comfortable to travel home

• Aware of any specific instructions relating to your procedure

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You may notice temporary numbness or weakness if local anaesthetic has been used. This usually settles within a few hours.

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What Should I Expect?

It is common to experience:

• Mild soreness at the injection site

• Bruising

• Temporary stiffness

• A temporary increase in your usual pain for a few days

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If local anaesthetic has been used, you may experience excellent pain relief immediately after the procedure. This is temporary and usually wears off within a few hours.

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If a corticosteroid has been injected, it may take several days to two weeks before you notice the full benefit.

Radiofrequency ablation often takes two to six weeks before maximum improvement is achieved.

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Looking After Yourself

For the first 24 hours:

• Take it easy but continue gentle movement.

• Avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting.

• Keep the injection site clean and dry.

• Drink plenty of fluids and eat normally unless advised otherwise.

• Take your usual medications unless you have been given different instructions.

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Most patients can gradually return to their normal activities over the following few days.

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Remaining active is usually more helpful than prolonged rest.

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Driving

If you have had local anaesthetic, sedation or temporary numbness, you should not drive until you feel fully recovered and can safely control your vehicle.

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If you have received sedation, you should not drive, operate machinery, sign important documents or drink alcohol for 24 hours.

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If you are unsure whether it is safe to drive, please ask before leaving the clinic.

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Returning to Work

This depends on:

• The type of procedure

• The area treated

• The type of work you do

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Many people return to office-based work within one or two days.

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If your job involves heavy manual work, you may benefit from taking a little longer before returning. This will be discussed during your appointment.

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Exercise and Physiotherapy

One of the main aims of treatment is to make rehabilitation more comfortable.

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Once your pain begins to improve:

• Restart your stretching exercises.

• Continue your physiotherapy programme if applicable.

• Gradually increase your activity levels.

• Avoid trying to "catch up" with strenuous exercise too quickly.

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Improving strength, flexibility and confidence in movement often helps achieve the best long-term results.

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Possible Steroid Side Effects

If your injection included corticosteroid, you may experience temporary side effects such as:

• Facial flushing

• Increased appetite

• Difficulty sleeping

• Mood changes

• Temporary rise in blood sugar (particularly in people with diabetes)

• Temporary changes to menstrual patterns

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These effects usually settle within a few days.

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If you have diabetes, you should monitor your blood sugar more closely for several days after your injection.

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When Should I Seek Medical Advice?

Serious complications are uncommon, but you should seek urgent medical advice if you develop:

• Increasing redness, swelling or discharge at the injection site

• A high temperature or feeling generally unwell

• Severe pain that continues to worsen rather than gradually improving

• New weakness in your arm or leg

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

• Numbness around the saddle (groin) area

• Difficulty breathing or signs of an allergic reaction

• Severe headache that is worse when sitting or standing after a spinal procedure

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If you are concerned about your recovery, please contact my secretary during normal working hours.

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If you develop severe symptoms or require urgent medical attention outside normal hours, contact NHS 111 or attend your nearest Emergency Department.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal for my pain to be worse after the injection?

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Yes.

Some patients experience a temporary increase in pain for a few days before improvement begins. This is usually short-lived.

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When will I notice a benefit?

This depends on the treatment you have received.

• Local anaesthetic works within minutes but wears off after a few hours.

• Steroid injections may take several days to two weeks to reach their full effect.

• Radiofrequency ablation often takes between two and six weeks to achieve maximum benefit.

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Can I shower?

Yes.

Unless you have been given different instructions, you can usually remove any small dressing the following day and shower as normal.

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Can I take painkillers afterwards?

Yes.

Continue taking your usual pain medication unless you have been advised otherwise.

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When can I exercise again?

Gentle walking is encouraged immediately. More strenuous exercise should usually be reintroduced gradually over the following few days, depending on the procedure performed.

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Will I need another injection?

Not necessarily. Your response to treatment will help determine whether any further procedures are appropriate. This will be reviewed during your follow-up appointment if required.

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Follow-Up

Some patients improve without needing further review, while others benefit from a follow-up appointment to assess their progress and discuss the next steps.

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If your symptoms do not improve as expected, or if they return after an initial period of relief, there may be other treatment options available. These will be discussed with you based on your individual circumstances.

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Need Advice?

If you have questions about your recovery or are unsure whether your symptoms are part of the normal healing process, please contact my secretary. We are happy to help and can arrange further advice if needed.

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If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 999 or attend your nearest Emergency Department immediately.

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