Post-Procedure Instructions
Pain Management Specialists is dedicated to providing the highest level of service and care to our patients in the treatment and management of acute and chronic pain.
Post-Procedure Instructions
If you are having one of the following procedures please review the following post-procedure instructions:
- Epidural Steroid Injection
- Facet Joint Injection
- Selective Nerve Root Block
- Sympathetic Block
- Radio frequency Lesion
- Neurolytic Block
- Discography
Activity:
- Do not drive for 6 – 8 hours if your legs or feet feel weak or numb or if you were medicated with a sedative or a narcotic.
- You may perform
moderate exercise (leisurely walking or stretching) on the day of the injection. - Resume other activity after 3 days.
- No heavy lifting (greater than 5 lbs.) for 3 days.
- Avoid twisting and bending movements (no workouts, heavy household duties, golf, etc.) for 3 days.
Comfort Measures:
- You may take your usual medications.
- You may apply ice to the injection area for twenty minutes at a time every 1 – 2 hours. Do not place a heating pad to the area for the first 24 hours.
- Remove the dressing or Band-Aid after 4 hours.
- No baths, hot tubs or swimming for 24 hours. You may shower.
Expected Effects:
- You may experience facial flushing from the steroid injection (cortisone medication), sleeplessness, or a restless feeling. These symptoms can last for 1 – 4 days and are quite normal
- You may experience an increase in pain the day following your procedure. Steroid medication can take 1 to 3 days
start working. It may take this long to feel a decrease in your pain. Do not become discouraged if the pain takes 3 days to subside - If your test was a diagnostic test, you may not have lasting pain relief.
Complications to watch for:
- Numbness, weakness, or tingling in the arms or legs lasting for more than 24 hours.
- Fever or temperature greater than 101 degrees. If you feel hot, take your temperature.
- Nausea, new or unusual headache or neck stiffness.
- Difficulty urinating or holding your urine.
- Bleeding or drainage from the injection site (more than 1/2 teaspoon).
- Unusual swelling or redness around the injection site.
- If you have difficulty breathing or chest pain with breathing. Call 911, as it may be a reaction to the medications given or an indication of
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Follow-up Appointments:
To schedule follow-up appointments, call Dr. Benson’s office at (805) 682-5520.
Where to call For Problems:
Call Dr. Benson’s office at (805) 682-5520.
If you call after regular business hours or on weekends, a message will instruct you how to reach one of our on-call physicians.
Our friendly staff is here to support you.
Let us know if you have any questions or need any clarification on the instructions. Call us at: 805.682.5520.
Jeoffrey P. Benson M.D., PhD.
The director of the Pain Management Specialists is Dr. Jeoffrey Benson. Dr. Benson has practiced interventional pain management in association with the Anesthesia Medical Group of Santa Barbara since 1991. In 2003, he opened his private practice in pain management. He is board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management Specialties. He sees consults and performs procedures in his office and in addition performs procedures at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, Premier Surgery Center and Marian Medical Center and Plaza Surgery Center in Santa
Mark Davis M.D.
Dr. Mark Davis, an interventional pain management specialist, attended the University of Mississippi medical center where he graduated in the top 20 percent of his class. While in medical school he participated in the Scholars Research program, where he investigated the health effects of obesity on the cardiovascular system. He then completed his residency in anesthesiology and a fellowship in pain management at the world renowned Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. While training at Cedar Sinai, he mastered the latest techniques in interventional pain management…
Staff
Maxine Avila
Nurse and Case Manager
Maria Ringwald
Nurse and Case Manager
Christine Gutierrez
Office Manager – Billing Manager
Sarah Mendoza
Office Coordinator – Scheduler