Patient Instructions

If you are receiving injections for pain, you must bring a driver with you to the pain management clinic. Your procedure will be cancelled if you do not have someone to drive you home.

You must be free of any infection in order to have an injection of any type. If you become ill, please call the clinic at (304) 598-6216 to reschedule your injection. Your injection will be cancelled if you are presently on any antibiotic treatment for infection.

You may take your scheduled medications, including pain, blood pressure, and heart medications, unless otherwise advised.

Please notify the pain clinic if you are on any blood thinners, such as: Plavix, Ticlid, Coumadin, Pletal, Lovenox, Aggrenox, or any other anticoagulant. These medications require special instructions.

Diabetic patients: Please be sure to check your glucose level on the morning of your injection. Also, you will need to check your glucose levels more frequently for the first 2 or 3 days following your injection. Some patients may notice an increase in their glucose levels after their procedure.

No solid food for at least 6 hours prior to your scheduled procedure time. You may have small amounts of clear liquids up to 2 hours prior to the procedure.

Signs of infection or allergy

If you feel you are having an allergic reaction to medicine, go to the nearest emergency room. Signs of an allergic reaction may include:

• severe itching
• chest pain
• red or bloody welts
• swelling (on any body part)
• difficulty breathing
• seizures
• unconsciousness

Signs of infection at the site of the injection may include:

• redness
• increase in pain at the puncture site, not to be confused with an increase in pain of your diagnostic problem for which the injection was given
• swelling at the puncture site that cannot be relieved by elevation of the body part or with application of ice at the site
• drainage of fluid from the site that is foul smelling, has color that may be white, yellow, gray, or green
• fever greater than 100.5 degrees by mouth and lasting longer than one day
• increase in warmth to touch around the puncture site associated with these symptoms

If you have questions, please call the Pain Clinic between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday at (304) 598-6216. After hours or holidays, go to the nearest emergency department.