Facet Joint Injections

Please let us know if you have any allergies or take blood thinning medication (Aspirin, Warfarin, Dabigatran or Clopidogrel).

You will be asked to change into a gown. The procedure is normally performed with you lying face down on the CT examination table. Your skin will be cleansed in the area of interest to create sterile conditions.

A local anaesthetic is then injected. CT imaging is used to accurately locate the area that requires injection and to guide the needle.

A Radiologist will position a needle using the CT guidance within the epidural space and inject the steroid and sterile saline or local anaesthetic. The needle is removed and a sterile dressing applied.

You may experience some pain or bruising at the needle site, and in rare cases, minor muscle spasm may occur. You will be unable to drive for 24 hours following the procedure. Please consider this when making your appointment.

It is advisable not to perform any lifting or physical activities that may aggravate your condition for at least 12 hours after the procedure.

You will receive a small dose of X-ray radiation. Please advise the radiographer if you are, or think you may be pregnant. Complications such as infection, allergy, bleeding are very rare.

Approximately 30 - 40 minutes.

Please call our practice on 07 3035 3700.