Kaiser Fremont/Hayward Spinal Diagnostic Services

39400 Paseo Padre Parkway

Fremont, CA 94538

Discharge Instruction: Medial Branch Block

You have received an injection of a regional anesthetic. It is likely that the effects of this anesthetic are still present when you are discharged home. The regional/local anesthetic provides pain relief and also prevents your muscles from working at full strength. Please pay attention to the following side effects and post-injection instructions:

1. For the duration of the local anesthetic effect, usually 4 to 6 hours, you may have decreased muscle strength in your lower extremities on the side of the injection.

2. It is not uncommon to experience pain or soreness at the side of the injection, apply ice packs to the injection site for no longer than 20 minutes. You may repeat the ice pack treatment 4 to 6 times as needed.

3. You may take pain medication prescribed by your referring doctor as needed.

4. You may also resume your usual medication after 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).

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