What are the Facet joints?
These are small joints of your spine which allows movement and maintains stability. Wear and tear, inflammation and injury of the facet joints can cause pain.
How will the injections help?
These injections will help in identifying the source and relieving your pain.
What does the injection contain?
It is a mixture of local anaesthetic (numbing medication) and steroid (anti-inflammatory) helping to reduce pain and inflammation of the joints.
What will happen to me during the treatment?
The injections are performed under x-ray guidance in the theatres by the Pain Management Consultant. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the skin before the needle is inserted.
How long will the procedure take?
The procedure usually takes between 15 – 20 minutes however you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before for consent and ward check.
What are the risks involved?
Failure – may not work well
Worsening of pain before it gets better
Worse Headache
Pain and bruising at the site of injection
Steroid effects e.g. facial flushing, increase in blood sugar for Diabetic patient
Infection is rare
Leg or Arm weakness is a rare complication
Injury or collapse of the lung (Pneumothorax) for the thoracic area only.
What happens after the procedure?
You will be moved to the recovery area where the nurse will check your heart rate and blood pressure, followed by transfer to the ward. Your Pain Management Consultant will perform an initial assessment to ascertain the effectiveness and review you before discharge.
Will there be a follow-up appointment after the injection?
Yes, your Pain Management Consultant will follow up in 6 – 8 weeks in the Pain clinic to ascertain the effectiveness of the treatment and discuss further management.
Is there any other procedure planned after this injection?
We will consider another procedure which involves heating of the nerves using Radio waves provided the initial injection helps. This will give you a prolonged period of pain relief.
What is a Dorsal Root Ganglion block / Nerve Root Block?
It is an injection of steroid (anti-inflammatory) and local anaesthetic (numbing medicine) that is inserted into the root of your nerves where it leaves the spinal cord. These injections can be performed anywhere in your spine depending on your pain site e.g. neck (cervical), back of chest (thoracic), lower back (lumbar). They are mainly used for radicular pain (sciatica or arm pain).
How does the injection help?
The injection helps by numbing and reducing inflammation or swelling of the affected nerves. It aids in identifying the source and relieving your pain.
What will happen to me during the treatment?
The injections are performed under x-ray guidance in the theatres by the Pain Management Consultant. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the skin before the needle is inserted.
How long will the procedure take?
The procedure usually takes between 15 – 20 minutes however you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before for consent and ward check.
What are the risks involved?
Failure – may not work well
Worse Headache
Worsening of pain before it gets better
Pain and bruising at the site of injection
Steroid effects e.g. facial flushing, increase in blood sugar for Diabetic patient
Infection is rare
Leg or Arm weakness is a rare complication
Injury or collapse of the lung (Pneumothorax) for the thoracic area only
What happens after the procedure?
You will be moved to the recovery area where the nurse will check your heart rate and blood pressure, followed by transfer to the ward. Your Pain Management Consultant will perform an initial assessment to ascertain the effectiveness and review you before discharge.
Will there be a follow-up appointment after the injection?
Yes, your Pain Management Consultant will follow up in 6 – 8 weeks in the Pain clinic to ascertain the effectiveness of the treatment and discuss further management.
Is there any other procedure planned after this injection?
We will consider another procedure which involves modulating the nerves using Radio waves provided the initial injection helps. This will give you a prolonged period of pain relief.
What is a Dorsal Root Ganglion block / Nerve Root Block?
It is an injection of steroid (anti-inflammatory) and local anaesthetic (numbing medicine) that is inserted into the root of your nerves where it leaves the spinal cord. These injections can be performed anywhere in your spine depending on your pain site e.g. neck (cervical), back of chest (thoracic), lower back (lumbar). They are mainly used for radicular pain (sciatica or arm pain).
How does the injection help?
The injection helps by numbing and reducing inflammation or swelling of the affected nerves. It aids in identifying the source and relieving your pain.
What will happen to me during the treatment?
The injections are performed under x-ray guidance in the theatres by the Pain Management Consultant. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the skin before the needle is inserted.
How long will the procedure take?
The procedure usually takes between 15 – 20 minutes however you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before for consent and ward check.
What are the risks involved?
Failure – may not work well
Worse Headache
Worsening of pain before it gets better
Pain and bruising at the site of injection
Steroid effects e.g. facial flushing, increase in blood sugar for Diabetic patient
Infection is rare
Leg or Arm weakness is a rare complication
Injury or collapse of the lung (Pneumothorax) for the thoracic area only
What happens after the procedure?
You will be moved to the recovery area where the nurse will check your heart rate and blood pressure, followed by transfer to the ward. Your Pain Management Consultant will perform an initial assessment to ascertain the effectiveness and review you before discharge.
Will there be a follow-up appointment after the injection?
Yes, your Pain Management Consultant will follow up in 6 – 8 weeks in the Pain clinic to ascertain the effectiveness of the treatment and discuss further management.
Is there any other procedure planned after this injection?
We will consider another procedure which involves modulating the nerves using Radio waves provided the initial injection helps. This will give you a prolonged period of pain relief.
What is Pulsed Radiofrequency?
It is a therapy that uses bursts of high-frequency electric current which is produced by the radio waves using a radiofrequency machine. It modulates or changes how the nerve functions.
Why do I need Pulsed Radiofrequency treatment?
It is undertaken when the Dorsal Root Ganglion block /Nerve Root block or Peripheral Nerve blocks have provided significant pain relief for a short duration. The main purpose is to provide a prolonged period of pain relief.
What will happen to me during the treatment?
The injections are performed under x-ray guidance in the theatres by the Pain Management Consultant. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the skin before the needle is inserted.
The doctor will ask you questions during the procedure to make sure the needles are in the right place to avoid complications.
How long will the procedure take?
The procedure usually takes between 20 – 30 minutes however you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before for consent and ward check.
What are the risks involved?
Failure – may not work well
Worsening of pain before it gets better
Pain and bruising at the site of injection
Worse headache
Infection is rare
Leg or Arm weakness is a rare complication
What happens after the procedure?
You will be moved to the recovery area where the nurse will check your heart rate and blood pressure, followed by transfer to the ward. Your Pain Management Consultant will perform an initial assessment to ascertain the effectiveness and review you before discharge.
Will there be a follow-up appointment after the injection?
Yes, your Pain Management Consultant will follow up in 6 – 8 weeks in the Pain clinic to ascertain the effectiveness of the treatment and discuss further management.
Is there a follow-up appointment after the treatment?
Yes, your Pain Management Consultant will follow up in 6 – 8 weeks in the Pain clinic to ascertain the effectiveness of the treatment and discuss further management.
What is Radiofrequency Denervation?
It is a therapy that uses radio waves to produce an electric current which heats the nerves of the facet joints or sacroiliac joint. The heat lesion of the nerves helps in reducing the pain.
Why do I need radiofrequency treatment/denervation?
It is undertaken when the sacroiliac joint injections, facet joint injections or medial branch blocks have provided significant pain relief for a short duration. The main purpose is to provide a prolonged period of pain relief.
What will happen to me during the treatment?
The injections are performed under x-ray guidance in the theatres by the Pain Management Consultant. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the skin before the needle is inserted.
The doctor will ask you questions during the procedure to make sure the needles are in the right place to avoid complications.
How long will the procedure take?
The procedure usually takes between 20 – 30 minutes however you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before for consent and ward check.
What are the risks involved?
Failure – may not work well
Worsening of pain before it gets better
Pain and bruising at the site of injection
Worse headache
Infection is rare
Leg or Arm weakness is a rare complication
What happens after the procedure?
You will be moved to the recovery area where the nurse will check your heart rate and blood pressure, followed by transfer to the ward. Your Pain Management Consultant will perform an initial assessment to ascertain the effectiveness and review you before discharge.
Is there a follow-up appointment after the treatment?
Yes, your Pain Management Consultant will follow up in 6 – 8 weeks in the Pain clinic to ascertain the effectiveness of the treatment and discuss further management.
What is an Epidural steroid injection?
This injection is given in your epidural space which surrounds the spinal cord that contains the nerve roots which send signals to the brain. These injections can be performed anywhere in your spine dependant on your pain site e.g. neck (cervical), back of chest (thoracic), lower back (caudal or transforaminal epidural).
What does this injection contain?
It is a mixture of local anaesthetic (numbing medication) and steroid (anti-inflammatory).
How does the injection help?
The injection helps by reducing inflammation or swelling around the nerves. It can provide significant pain relief for a different length of time, but it may not be a cure. They are mainly used to treat radicular pain (sciatica or arm pain). The injection also aims to provide you with a pain-free period to help you engage with physiotherapy and do more exercises to improve the core muscle strength.
What will happen to me during the treatment?
The injections are performed under x-ray guidance in the theatres by the Pain Management Consultant. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the skin before the needle is inserted.
How long will the procedure take?
The procedure usually takes between 15 – 20 minutes however you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before for consent and ward check.
What are the risks involved?
Failure – may not work well
Worse Headache
Worsening of pain before it gets better
Pain and bruising at the site of injection
Steroid effects e.g. facial flushing, increase in blood sugar for Diabetic patient
Infection is rare
Leg or Arm weakness is a rare complication
Injury or collapse of the lung (Pneumothorax) for the thoracic area only
What happens after the procedure?
You will be moved to the recovery area where the nurse will check your heart rate and blood pressure, followed by transfer to the ward. Your Pain Management Consultant will perform an initial assessment to ascertain the effectiveness and review you before discharge.
Is there a follow-up appointment after the injection?
Yes, your Pain Management Consultant will follow up in 6 – 8 weeks in the Pain clinic to ascertain the effectiveness of the treatment and discuss further management.
