Intravenous regional block injection

What is intravenous regional block?

This procedure involves giving an intravenous injection into the affected leg or arm.

The injection can help with symptoms of pain, swelling, changes in colour and sensation to the skin (for example cold or hot feelings) and sweating. You may be experiencing one or more of these symptoms.

What is injected?

A small amount of local anaesthetic, with or without steroids is injected into one or more of the costochondral, joints. The steroid acts only around the area it is injected into and does not have the same side effects as taking long-term steroids.

Where is the procedure done?

The procedure is usually carried out in the Chedworth Suite at Cheltenham General Hospital. An appointment will be sent to you by the pain clinic secretaries.

On arrival

• You may be asked to put on a hospital gown.
• You will be asked to lie on an X-ray trolley.
• X-rays images (pictures) may be used to guide the needle.
• The area to be injected will be cleaned with antiseptic.
• The consultant will numb the area with a local anaesthetic, if needed, before injecting the anaesthetic and steroid.
• You may feel some discomfort during the procedure. This is a good sign, as it helps the consultant to know that the needle is exactly where it is needed.

How long will I be in the hospital?

Although the procedure itself only takes about 45 minutes, you may be on Chedworth Suite for a couple of hours, so please come prepared for this. After the procedure, you will be offered a drink and allowed home shortly afterwards.

Can I eat and drink?

You may eat and drink as normal unless your consultant advises you otherwise.

Can I take my usual medication?

Continue to take your medication as usual on the treatment day. If you are diabetic and your blood sugar is above 15mmol/l on the day of your procedure you may not be able to have your injection, this will be decided by your consultant. If your blood sugars are above 15mmol/l leading up to your injection please contact the consultant’s secretary for advice.

Can I drive home?

For safety reasons, you are asked not to drive yourself home. You should also have somebody with you for the rest of the day.

After the injection

In the days following your injection you may have:

• mild discomfort around the injection site. This is expected and should settle by itself.
• an increase in your normal pain, this is usually temporary. You can take your normal pain relief to reduce any discomfort. If the pain is severe, please contact your GP for advice.
• temporary weakness and numbness in the limb or area that was treated. If it was safe to do so you may have been discharged home with these symptoms. Please take care to protect the area/limb until normal sensation returns; this will help to prevent accidental injuries.
• an allergic reaction to the injection, which results in redness and itching around the injection site. This is not serious, although we need to know about it for future treatments.facial redness or flushing which is a normal response to steroid injection treatment.

What happens next?

Your response to the injection treatment will either be assessed before you leave Chedworth Suite or you will be asked for feedback 6 weeks after the treatment.

Please provide your email address before leaving Chedworth Suite.

A member of our administrative team will email you in 6 weeks with a form to complete about the result of your injection treatment.

You will be asked to complete the form with your name, date of birth, hospital number and the name of your pain consultant.

You will also be asked to let us know how much pain relief was provided by the injection and what improvements you have noticed. The improvements may include being able to sleep better, being able to do more physically, reducing medication, or improvements in your mood and general well-being.

If you are not able to access email - please telephone your pain consultant’s secretary 6 weeks after the injection treatment. The contact number is at the end of the leaflet. You will be asked for the same information that is requested by email.

The next step in your treatment will be decided according to your response to the injection treatment. Any further appointments will be posted to your home address.

If your pain has improved greatly, you will not need a routine follow-up appointment. Instead, you will be given a 6-month open appointment during which time you can contact your consultant’s secretary if your pain becomes difficult to manage again.

Contact

For injection treatment follow up please contact your consultant’s secretary, Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

To rearrange an outpatient appointment, contact the Booking Office on 0300 422 5327

Dr Young’s secretary

Tel: 0300 422 3383

Dr Makins secretary

Tel: 0300 422 2558

Dr Harper’s secretary

Tel: 0300 422 3383

Dr Bodycombe’s secretary

Tel: 0300 422 3198

Dr Rea’s secretary

Tel: 0300 422 2804

Dr Patel’s secretary

Tel: 0300 422 2558

For all other queries please contact the:

Clinical Nurse Specialists

Tel: 0300 422 2976

An answerphone will be in operation at all times, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

For urgent calls please contact your GP or NHS 111.