We look forward to seeing you for your procedure at Sweetwater Pain & Spine. We are committed to providing you with the highest quality care and use a range of minimally invasive techniques to reduce or eliminate your pain. This guide covers everything you need to know before, during, and after your appointment — so you can arrive prepared and confident.
Palpation-Guided Injections
Your physician uses anatomical landmarks felt through the skin to guide needle placement. These are typically used for more superficial injections such as trigger point injections, certain joint injections, and peripheral nerve blocks where the target structure is readily identifiable by touch.
Ultrasound-Guided Injections
A real-time ultrasound image is used to directly visualize the needle, target structure, and surrounding anatomy during the injection. Ultrasound guidance improves precision and safety, particularly for joint injections, tendon and bursa injections, and peripheral nerve blocks.
Fluoroscopic (X-Ray) Injections
Live X-ray imaging is used to guide the needle to its precise target within or near the spine. Contrast dye is often injected to confirm accurate needle placement before medication is delivered. Fluoroscopy is the standard of care for epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, facet injections, and spinal cord stimulator procedures.
Precision-guided procedures — minimally invasive, image-guided techniques for targeted pain relief
Image guidance — the standard of care for safe, precise, and effective pain management procedures
Before Your Appointment
Wear clothing that allows easy access to the area being treated. Avoid tight waistbands, belts, or clothing that cannot be easily moved. In rare instances, you may be asked to change into a gown for a procedure. Avoid wearing jewelry to your appointment.
Inform our team about all medications you are currently taking, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Some medications — particularly blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), apixaban (Eliquis), and rivaroxaban (Xarelto) — may need to be temporarily stopped before certain procedures. Do not stop any medication without specific guidance from our office and your prescribing physician.
Please inform our staff of any known allergies — especially to medications, latex, iodine, or contrast dye (used during fluoroscopic procedures). If you have had a prior reaction to contrast dye, let us know well in advance so we can take appropriate precautions or pre-medicate you if needed.
Bring all relevant medical records, prior imaging (MRI, X-ray, CT), and a complete list of your current medications to your appointment. Please disclose any recent illnesses, hospitalizations, or surgeries. Important: procedures cannot be performed if you have an active, unresolved infection. Notify our office before your appointment if you are feeling unwell or have signs of infection such as fever, chills, or a skin infection near the treatment area.
For most injections, you may eat and drink normally before your appointment. However, if you are receiving IV sedation or have been specifically instructed to fast, follow those instructions carefully. When in doubt, call our office to confirm. Staying well-hydrated before your appointment is generally encouraged.
You will need a responsible adult driver to take you home if you are receiving a spinal injection (such as an epidural or nerve block), if sedation is being used, or if our scheduling team has specifically advised you to arrange a driver. Please confirm this requirement when scheduling. Patients who arrive without a driver when one is required may need to reschedule their procedure.
Corticosteroid injections (steroids) can temporarily raise blood sugar levels for several days after the procedure. If you are diabetic, monitor your blood glucose more closely in the days following your injection and contact your primary care physician or endocrinologist if your levels are difficult to control.
Day-of Quick Reference
✅ Please DO
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early for paperwork
- Bring a complete list of current medications
- Bring a driver if instructed to do so
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing
- Eat and drink normally (unless told otherwise)
- Tell staff about any allergies or new symptoms
- Bring prior imaging or medical records
- Take your regular morning medications unless instructed otherwise
❌ Please DO NOT
- Take blood thinners if instructed to hold them
- Come to your appointment with an active infection or fever
- Wear tight or restrictive clothing over the treatment area
- Apply creams, lotions, or patches to the injection site
- Drive yourself home after a spinal procedure if a driver is required
- Soak in a bath, hot tub, or pool within 48 hours after your procedure
- Apply heat to the injection area in the first 48 hours
What to Expect on the Day of Your Procedure
Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time to complete any necessary paperwork. A member of our clinical team will review your health history, confirm your medications and allergies, take your vital signs, and answer any last-minute questions before you are brought back for the procedure.
You will be positioned on the procedure table for optimal access to the treatment area. The skin is thoroughly cleansed with a sterile antiseptic solution. Sterile draping is applied to maintain a clean field and reduce infection risk.
Your physician will numb the skin and underlying tissue with a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort. For fluoroscopic procedures, the C-arm X-ray unit will be positioned. For ultrasound-guided procedures, the probe is placed on the skin. You may feel pressure but should not feel sharp pain — let your physician know immediately if you do.
Your physician navigates the needle to the precise target using image guidance, confirms accurate placement, and delivers the medication. Depending on the procedure, you may feel pressure, a brief ache, or temporary reproduction of your usual pain — this is normal and typically brief. Most injections take between 5 and 30 minutes from start to finish.
After the procedure, you will rest briefly in the recovery area while our staff monitors you. Your physician will review any procedure-specific aftercare instructions with you before you leave. If a driver was required, they will be brought in at this time.
After Your Procedure
For the majority of our procedures, you may resume regular daily activities within 24 hours. Avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, or vigorous activity on the day of the procedure. Follow any procedure-specific activity restrictions provided by your physician.
Some soreness, bruising, or temporary increased pain at the injection site is normal in the first 24–72 hours. Apply ice to the area for 20 minutes each hour as needed. Avoid heat — including heating pads, hot baths, and saunas — for the first 48 hours after your procedure, as heat can increase inflammation.
You may shower immediately after your procedure. However, avoid submerging the injection site for at least 48 hours — this means no bathtubs, hot tubs, swimming pools, lakes, or any other soaking. Keeping the site dry reduces the risk of infection.
After diagnostic injections such as medial branch blocks or selective nerve root blocks, it is important to document your pain level before and in the hours following the injection. Your physician may ask you to record this in a pain diary to help interpret your results. Bring this information to your follow-up appointment.
Watch for any signs of infection in the days following your procedure: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, or fever. These symptoms are uncommon but require prompt medical attention. Call our office or seek emergency care if they develop.
Many corticosteroid injections take 3–7 days to reach their full effect as the anti-inflammatory medication builds up in the treated area. You may notice temporary numbness or increased pain relief immediately after the injection due to the local anesthetic — this typically wears off within a few hours. Do not judge the final result until at least one week has passed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about your upcoming procedure? Our team is here to make sure you feel fully prepared and at ease before your appointment.