Facet joint injections...

[Badvoc]

I have a bulge in my L3 vertabra (had a herniated disc last year) and its pressing on my nerve causing pain and discomfort.

The orthopeadic guy has booked me in for a facet joint injection on thursday and I was wondering if anyone had had one and what I can expect re: proceedure and recovery time?

TIA

I've had that one. It's a bit unnerving, but genuinely fine. They guide it under x-ray. They'll put a canula into your hand in case you have a bad reaction to the drug. They'll also ask you if you want to be sedated or not. If you're sedated you're in hospital for an hour or so more.

They'll lie you face down on a table, they numb the area with local anaesthetic, then inject, watching the needle go in as they do it on the x-ray. It doesn't take very long, but is a bit uncomfortable/ painful - I'd imagine if you're sedated you don't notice though.

You'll then be wheeled into a recovery/ obs room. If you don't have sedation, you can leave pretty quickly. Think I stayed about half an hour and had a cup of tea and a biscuit while there. You'll need someone to take you home, and you might feel a bit odd walking. I was fine next day, though they do suggest you take a day or so off work. Hope it works for you.

my bf has had 2. He didn't have sedation with either and was abs fine. He isn't the most stoical of people so if it had been painful he would definately have told me. He was pretty much fine straight after but rested up. Fine the next day. The description of the procedure smee gives was the same by the sounds of it. Really hope it helps.

There hasnt been any mention of sedation and I would rather get home asap.

Not pain per se I am worried about...more how quickly are you back to normal IYSWIM?

Thanks both. Hope it works

Do you mean how quickly will it work? It didn't with me which was annoying, but don't let that put you off, as they were kind of expecting it not to. I think it's relatively fast if it is going to help though.