Looks like you’re visiting UCSF Health on Internet Explorer. For the best experience, try Chrome or Firefox.

UCSF Health
Popular Searches
University of California San Francisco
  • Conditions & Treatments
    Conditions & Treatments
    EPILEPSY BREAKTHROUGH

    Stopping Seizures Before They Start

    • Find Conditions

    • Find Treatments

    • Clinical Trials

    • Patient Education

    • Medical Tests

  • Doctors
    Doctors
    MEET OUR DOCTORS
    Dr. Jasleen Kukreja and the Life-Saving Gift of Breath
    • Find a Doctor

    • Doctor Stories

    • Get a Second Opinion

  • Clinics & Locations
    Clinics & Locations
    BAKAR PRECISION CANCER MEDICINE BUILDING
    Care, Convenience and Support at New Cancer Facility
    • Find a Clinic

    • Locations & Directions

    • Partners & Affiliates

    • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital – Oakland

    • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital – San Francisco

  • Patients & Visitors
    Patients & Visitors
    KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
    10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Visit
    • Your Hospital Stay

    • For Visitors

    • International Patients

    • For Caregivers

    • Support, Services & Groups

    • Billing & Insurance

    • Pricing Transparency

    • 340B Drug Pricing Program

    • Medical Records

    • Patient Relations

  • Why Choose Us?
    Why Choose Us?
    U.S. News Best Hospital Rankings
    UCSF Health Ranked Among Nation's Top 10 Hospitals
    • Our Mission

    • Quality of Patient Care

    • Patient Stories

    • Embracing Diversity

    • Our Leadership

  • Refer a Patient
  • MyChart
  • Request Appointment
    • Request Appointment
    • Get a Second Opinion
    • Call us: (888) 689-8273
University of California San Francisco
Patient Education

CT-guided Pain Management Procedures: Discharge Instructions

After undergoing a CT-guided spinal injection procedure, it is important to follow the following instructions closely to aid your recovery.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the UCSF Precision Spine and Peripheral Nerve Center nurse at (415) 353-3717. You will also receive the number of one of our neuroradiologists in case you need to speak with someone after hours. If you feel you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

What to Do

  • Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
  • Resume your usual medications, including your pain medicine if needed.
  • You may shower the day after your procedure.
  • Remove the bandage(s) from the needle puncture site(s) the day after your procedure.
  • Inspect the needle puncture site(s) for redness, swelling, bleeding or pus.
  • For the first three days following your procedure, avoid baths, hot tubs, pools, bending, stooping, strenuous exercise, straining for a bowel movement and lifting heavy objects.
  • For 14 days after your procedure, please record the location and level of your pain twice a day, every day. Rate the level of pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain). For example:

    Back pain = 3/10 (your pain is a "3" on a 10-point scale)
    Leg pain = 5/10 (your pain is a "5" on a 10-point scale)

    This information will help you, the neuroradiologist and your doctor evaluate the effectiveness of your treatment.

If You Received Sedation

If you received sedation, for the first 24 hours after your procedure we recommend that you:

  • Have a responsible adult take you home.
  • Rest and take it easy.
  • Resume eating, but begin with light foods such as clear juice, soup and jello, then progress to solid food.
  • Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid drinks with caffeine and alcohol.
  • Do not drive or operate hazardous machinery.
  • Do not make important personal or business decisions.

When to Call Us

It is normal to experience mild pain at the needle puncture site. However, you should call the UCSF Precision Spine and Peripheral Nerve Center nurse at (415) 353-3717 if you develop:

  • Vomiting
  • Temperature greater than 101° F
  • Pain that is not controlled by your usual pain medication
  • Redness, swelling, bleeding, pus or drainage from a needle puncture site
  • New or increased numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
  • Difficulty urinating

Your Results

Our board certified neuroradiologists will share their conclusions and findings with your referring doctor, either by personal contact or a detailed post-procedure report.

UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.

Related clinics

Precision Spine and Peripheral Nerve Center

185 Berry St., Lobby 6
San Francisco, CA 94107

(415) 353-4500
M-F, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Doctors

  • Cynthia Chin

    MD

    Radiologist
  • William Dillon

    MD

    Radiologist
  • Christopher Hess

    MD, PhD

    Neuroradiologist
  • Esther Yuh

    MD

    Neuroradiologist

Key treatments

  • CT-Guided Spinal Injections

Support services

View All
Patient Resource

Interpreters

UCSF offers language services at no charge for patients with limited English, as well as for patients who are deaf or have trouble hearing.

Patient Resource

Fishbon Library: Health Information Resources

Browse the collection or let our librarian answer your questions about conditions, treatments, health and wellness, clinical trials and more.

Patient Resource

Patient Relations

We welcome feedback about your experience at UCSF Health. Find out how to contact us with comments, questions or concerns.

Attention: Masks On!

If you're a patient or visitor in one of our hospitals or clinics, you are required to wear a mask.

Find out why masking is so important
Did you know?

UCSF designed its new state-of-the-art Precision Cancer Medicine Building to support patients through every step of their cancer journey. The building houses a centralized check-in, dedicated acute care clinic, support center and comfortable spaces for pop-up services, such as nutrition classes and art therapy.

Precision Cancer Medicine Building
UCSF Health
Follow UCSF Health:
Getting Care
  • Find a Doctor
  • Emergency Care
  • Primary Care
  • All Medical Services
  • International Services
Getting Involved
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Join Our Team
About Us
  • Locations & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Patient Relations
  • Report Misconduct
  • Quality of Patient Care
  • Crisis Standards of Care
  • Our Organization
  • News Center
  • Notice of Privacy Practices
Research and Education
  • Clinical Trials
  • UC San Francisco
  • UCSF School of Medicine
  • UCSF School of Nursing
  • UCSF School of Pharmacy
Referring Physicians
  • Refer a Patient
  • Transfer a Patient
  • MDLink
  • Request a Consultation
  • Video Center
Follow UCSF Health:
© 2002 - 2021. The Regents of The University of California.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Some stock photos, posed by model.

Share

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email Link
  • Copy Link