Following injection treatment for pain relief, different individuals may react in different ways. Not everyone experiences immediate relief, it may take some time for the effects of the procedure to become apparent.
Flare up advice
Some people experience a short-term ‘flare up’ of their pain. This may take several weeks to resolve, and is more common after certain procedures e.g. Radiofrequency treatment. The benefits of the procedure may become apparent after the initial flare up has resolved – flare up does not mean the procedure will not work for you.
If you experience a flare up of your pain, it is important to maintain gentle movement as much as possible. You may wish to try the following:
- Ice packs
- Heat pads or hot water bottles
- Take your regular pain medication and any prescribed additional medication if needed.
What do I do with my medication?
If your pain improves significantly, you may wish to reduce the amount of medication you usually take, particularly those you take on an ‘as required’ basis. However it is important to make any medication changes gradually, and to take advice before reducing any longer acting painkillers. DO NOT stop medicines such as Zomorph, MST, Oxycodone MR (Longtec, Oxycontin), Gabapentin or Pregabalin abruptly as you may experience withdrawal effects. We will be happy to advise you about reducing regimes for these medications at your review appointment.
Who do I contact if I am worried?
It is very rare for people to experience serious complications after pain procedures, but it is important for us to know about it if you do, or are concerned. Things to look out for are:
- Redness or swelling at the injection site, which increases in size after you go home
- Shivering or high temperature in the first week after a procedure
- New onset of weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or loss of bowel or bladder control
- A new onset/different type of headache after certain procedures e.g. epidural injections
If you have any concerns, please contact the Pain Management Service
Tel. 0191 445 2645, Monday-Friday 8.30-4.30pm
If you develop any of the symptoms listed above outside of weekday working hours, please attend an Emergency Department and bring this leaflet with you.