Aftercare depends on the target and treatment. Follow the procedure-specific instructions given on the day.
Immediately after the procedure
You may have a small dressing, local tenderness or temporary numbness from local anaesthetic. Remain in the clinic for the instructed observation period. Stand and walk only when the team confirms that it is safe, particularly after a spinal or lower-limb procedure.
Driving and transport
Do not drive when you have numbness, weakness, dizziness, reduced coordination or have taken sedating medication. Many spinal procedures require a driver for the rest of the day. The requirement for a peripheral joint injection varies, so confirm it before the appointment.
Activity
- Use relative rest rather than complete immobility unless specifically instructed.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and high-risk activity for the period advised for your procedure.
- Do not test a numb joint or limb aggressively while local anaesthetic is working.
- Resume rehabilitation in the sequence advised by the treating clinician or physiotherapist.
The dressing and skin entry site
Keep the site clean and follow the instructions about showering, swimming and dressing removal. A tiny spot of blood or mild bruising can occur. Ongoing bleeding, increasing redness, heat, discharge or swelling requires advice.
Pain relief
Paracetamol may be suitable for many patients when taken according to the label and their own medical advice. Continue prescribed pain medicine unless told otherwise. Whether anti-inflammatory medicine should be used depends on the procedure; PRP has separate aftercare instructions.
Corticosteroid effects
Some people experience facial flushing, sleep disturbance, temporary mood change or increased blood glucose. These effects are usually short-lived. Patients with diabetes should follow their glucose-monitoring plan and contact their clinician if levels are difficult to control.
Record your response
A simple pain diary can be useful. Record the immediate change while local anaesthetic is active, the return of symptoms when it wears off, any pain flare and the later response over days or weeks. This helps distinguish diagnostic information from a delayed therapeutic effect.
Related Patient Guides
- PG7001 Specialist Image-Guided Injections: Why Imaging Guidance Matters
- PG7002 CT-Guided Spine Injections: What Patients Should Know
- PG7003 Ultrasound-Guided Joint, Tendon and Bursa Injections
- PG7004 What to Expect During an Image-Guided Procedure
- PG7005 Preparing for an Image-Guided Injection: Medicines, Blood Thinners and Infection
- PG7006 CT Guidance or Ultrasound Guidance: Why the Modality Matters
- PG7008 Pain, Numbness and Weakness After an Injection: What Is Normal?
- PG7009 Risks and Limitations of Image-Guided Procedures
- PG7010 When to Contact MBR Health or Seek Urgent Medical Care
Frequently Asked Questions
For other FAQs please visit our FAQs page
Can I go back to work?
It depends on the procedure, your work and whether you have numbness, weakness or pain. Desk work may be possible sooner than heavy physical work, driving or operating machinery.
Can I exercise the next day?
Do not use a generic timetable. A joint injection, tendon procedure, hydrodilatation and spinal injection require different progression.
Can I remove the dressing?
Follow the instructions provided on the day. Contact the clinic if the dressing becomes saturated or the site continues to bleed.
| Important: General information only. Your procedure, medication instructions, transport requirements and aftercare may differ. |
PATIENT GUIDE • PG-7007 [Patient information: Aftercare depends on the target and treatment. Follow the procedure-specific instructions given on the day.]
Advanced Imaging, Precision Treatment and Pain Relief
MBR Health provides image-guided interventional radiology for patients with spinal, joint, tendon, ligament and musculoskeletal pain. Our approach combines advanced diagnostic imaging with precise procedural targeting, including Spectral CT, MRI and ultrasound where appropriate. For patients seeking high-quality injection-based pain relief on the Gold Coast, the focus is on diagnosis, accuracy and selecting the treatment most suited to the underlying problem.
