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Please check in at Radiology at University Hospital 15 minutes before your scheduled visit.
If you are unable to keep this appointment, please call Radiology Scheduling at (608) 263-9729.
Your doctor suggests a nerve root block to help decrease the pain in your shoulder and neck. The amount of relief from this treatment varies from patient to patient. Some patients do not get any pain relief. Many get some or total relief of their pain. Relief can last for two weeks up to more than one year.
How to Prepare
You cannot have this treatment if:
You haven’t had an MRI or CT scan of your upper spine.
You have an active infection, such as a cold or sinus infection.
You may be or are pregnant.
You weigh more than 440 pounds.
Please tell our staff if you are taking blood thinners, such as, Plavix®, Warfarin (Coumadin®), Xarelto, or Pradaxa.
If you have diabetes, steroids will cause your blood sugar to increase. Make sure your primary doctor is aware of your scheduled injection. Talk to your doctor about a plan to keep your blood sugar within your normal range.
Please bring your pain medicine with you. You may take it after your treatment, if needed.
You must have someone drive you home after your treatment. Please plan for this. Some patients have weakness after treatment.
Day of Treatment
Enter through the clinic entrance and take the Atrium elevators to the 3rd floor. Check in at the (G3/3) Radiology desk.
If you have an MRI or CT from another hospital, you must bring it with you for the Radiologist to review. Please arrive 1 hour before your appointment to allow time to upload images.
Tell your doctor if you have diabetes or heart problems.
The Radiologist will meet you in a consult room to explain the risks and benefits of the treatment. You will have a chance to ask questions. The procedure will take about 45 minutes. You will either lie on your back or your side. A fine needle will be put into your neck to place medicine around the nerves of the neck.
After Treatment
Most patients do not have any problems after treatment. There is a slight risk of infection or bleeding in the spine.
For 1-2 days after treatment, some patients may have:
Neck or shoulder pain that is worse for a brief time.
Redness and flushing around the face.
Fluid gain for 1-2 days, which may affect breathing if they have heart problems.
High blood sugars if they have diabetes.
Treatment may cause a change in menstrual cycle. Patients could have spotting between periods. If you have periods and they change for more than 2 cycles, you should call your doctor to see if you need to be checked.
Activities
You must take the rest of the day off from work.
Avoid any heavy physical activity or heavy lifting for 24 hours.
You may return to your normal routine as soon as you are able.
Pain
You may take the medicines that you use for your low back pain.
You will be given a pain log to fill out for the next 14 days. Please complete this form and mail it back to us with the envelope you were given. We will need this information to decide the next step in your treatment plan.
Once your pain log is completed, contact the clinic who ordered your treatment to let them how much pain relief you have had. Contact them sooner if you have any questions about more treatment.
When to Call
Pain that gets worse in your upper back
Chills
Fever over 100.4° F, for 2 readings taken by mouth 4 hours apart
Redness or swelling around the site that gets worse
Any drainage from the site
Who to Call
Musculoskeletal Radiology Interventional Service
(608) 263-9729 option #3
After hours, nights, weekends and holidays, call (608) 263-6400. Ask for the radiology resident on call. Leave your name and phone number with area code. The doctor will call you back.
The toll-free number is 1-800-323-8942.