Kaiser Fremont/Hayward Spinal Diagnostic Services

39400 Paseo Padre Parkway

Fremont, CA 94538

Discharge Instructions: Interlaminar & Caudal Epidurals

You have received an Epidural Steroid Injection. Please pay close attention to the following side effects and post-injection instructions:

1. It is not uncommon to experience pain or soreness at the side of the injection. After the injection, you should apply ice packs to the injection site for no longer than 20 minutes at a time, repeating the ice pack treatment 4 to 6 times as needed.

2. You may take pain medication prescribed by your referring doctor as needed. You may also resume your usual medication after procedure on the same day.

3. If you are diabetic, the steroids may temporarily increase your blood sugar levels. If this occurs, please notify your personal doctor. Your diabetic medication may need to be adjusted. Other steroid effects may include water retention, insomnia, restlessness and headache.

4. Occasionally, patients will develop a dural headache after an epidural injection. This is a throbbing headache that is exacerbated when standing up and alleviated by lying down. In most instances, these headaches are transient and will resolved with oral fluids and bed rest. However, if you develop persistent positional headache for 48 hours or more following your epidural injection, please contact the doctor you have seen for your procedure.

5. If you develop ANY of the following, please call the doctor you have seen for your procedure or go to the emergency room:

• Fever or chills
• Severe tenderness at the injection site
• Weakness in the arm (for neck procedure) or leg (back procedure) that persists the next day after the procedure
• Unable to urinate or have new incontinence of bowel or bladder
• Breathing difficulty, dizziness, severe total body rash, facial or tongue swelling, chest pain.

Monday to Friday, from 9 am to12:30 pm & 1:30 pm to 5 pm, call 510-675-3070

After 5:00 PM, on weekends or Holidays, call 510-675-4010 and ask for the advice nurse.

Your next appointment for follow up is with Dr. _______________ in ________weeks/ on ______________________________(Clinic/via telephone).

Patient Signature ______________________ Witness _________________