Here are a few questions that you may get from patients and some suggestions on how to answer those. If you don't know the answer to their questions, please check with the staff on that day.
How long does it take for the steroids to work? (Or how long before I notice any changes?)
Although some people may start feeling better as early as 2-3 days after the injection, it may take up to 7-10 days to feel a significant change. It is not unusual that the pain levels will return to baseline on the first few days right after the procedure, then they should gradually improve over the following weeks.
Are there any restrictions after the procedure?
We usually recommend to avoid exercising or doing any strenuous activity on the day of the procedure (and even 2-3 days after, if possible). This includes long walks for foot/ankle injections or upper body exercises for joint injections/arthrograms. No other restrictions for usual daily activities at home, work (as long as it does not involve a lot of movement), driving, etc
If needed, how early could I get another injection?
For joints, it is recommended to avoid a new corticosteroid injection earlier than 3 months. Some referring providers may have their specific preferences, so it is always a good option to instruct the patient to check with them. Spine injections can be performed at shorter intervals, even after a few weeks. However, if the injections are not providing relief for more than a few weeks, it is worth discussing with the referring provider about other possible causes for pain.
If I have any questions in the days after the procedure, who should I call?
For questions related to the procedure, there are phone numbers at the back of the pain diary given to every patient after the injection. Patients can call those numbers and the people who were involved in the procedure will be informed and will call them back. If the question is related to clinical management (e.g. symptom relief was short lived, what to do next?), they should touch base with their referring provider.