What can I expect before, during, and after my procedure?

Before Pain Management and Treatment Procedures

During consultation days prior to your scheduled procedure, our physicians and/or nurses will provide you with instructions to follow in the 6, 12, or 24 hours leading up to your appointment time. Instructions may vary based on the procedure. You may be asked to avoid eating, drinking, or smoking, and those that regularly take blood thinners may be asked to discontinue use for at least seven days before the procedure. Also, you may be asked to complete a series of forms in advance and bring them with you to your visit.  

During Pain Management and Treatment Procedures

Administration of medications, physical position of the body, and the medical process all differ based on the procedure you will undertake. Some pain management procedures require the use of local anesthetics – or numbing medicine in which you remain awake and alert – while others require general anesthetics – or medicine that puts one in a state of total unconsciousness. Pain management procedures can last as short a time as 20 minutes (for treatments such as trigger point injections) or as long as three hours (for treatments such as spinal cord stimulation).

After Pain Management and Treatment Procedures

Many of our in-office procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis allowing you to go home the same day after about an hour recovery time, whereas procedures involving a 24-hour observation period require patients to stay overnight. Patients undergoing procedures involving the use of anesthesia will not be permitted to drive after treatment. Consequently, a friend or family member must be present to provide transportation; otherwise the procedure will not be performed. Patients who feel post-operative pain may be provided with an intravenous (IV) line or oral pain killers.