This technology is provides needle guidance during spinal injections, ensuring confidence and accuracy in the positioning of the needle tip before the administration of anti-inflammatory medication. Facet joint injections aim to alleviate back pain associated with facet joint degeneration.
Your preparation requirements
Please inform staff at the time of booking if you are taking any blood thinning medication (Aspirin, Warfarin or Clopidogrel). If you fail to alert staff of this at the time of booking, the procedure may be postponed.
In some circumstances you may be asked to have a blood test to access your clotting capabilities prior to your procedure.
Please notify your doctor and the staff at Sound Radiology if you have diabetes, renal disease, any allergies or you think you could be pregnant.
What to expect
Upon arrival at the practice, you will be asked to read and fill in a facet joint injection information and consent form. This ensures any pre-existing medical conditions, allergies and medications are acknowledged by Sound Radiology, and the appropriate preparation is established. If you have any concerns or questions, nursing staff are always available for clarification.
Imaging staff will collect you from the waiting room and escort you to a change cubicle, where you will be asked to change into a gown and asked to remove, all jewellery, reading glasses, etc. At this time, our staff will run through the procedure with you, answering any questions that you might have.
Once in the CT room, you will be asked to lie face down on the table for your procedure. The machine will be used to accurately locate the area of interest and your skin will be marked appropriately. The radiologist (medical imaging specialist) will then prep the area to ensure that the procedure is performed under sterile conditions. An injection of local anaesthetic is then placed under the skin, to numb the area.
A needle with then be positioned at the appropriate facet joint, and confirmed with CT imaging. The anti-inflammatory medication is then injected and the needle is removed.
Please allow 30-45 mins for your examination.
Risks of the procedure
Complications experienced during facet joint injections are considered very rare. Nevertheless, anytime a needle is placed through the skin there is a potential risk of bleeding and infection at the site.
After your procedure
In some circumstances, you may experience some increased pain at the injection site and/or weakness or numbness within your leg(s). These are temporary and usually resolve a short time after the procedure. In these circumstances we like to keep you at the practice until you have regained normal sensation.
The medications that are used during facet joint injections may take a couple of days to provide any benefit, thus we recommend avoiding any strenuous activity for the first couple of days.
The injections are aimed to help in the short term and are not a definitive treatment option. Sometimes repeat injections are necessary to obtain the desired pain relief.
It is recommended that you bring someone to drive you home from the procedure.
If you were on blood thinning medications and were instructed to cease taking them prior to the procedure, you can resume taking them the following day.
If you are having a CT guided facet joint injection, please see our checklists below.
