What to Expect Immediately After an Infusion

Having long-term back pain from failed back syndrome, arthritis, or disc degeneration can become more than a minor inconvenience: It can keep you from enjoying life to the fullest. Epidural steroid injections and infusions might be your key to living life more comfortably and without another back surgery.

Experienced physiatrist Stephanie Clop, MD, specializes in treating pain with gentle infusions at Integrated Spine and Pain Services. She welcomes you to her offices in Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia, to discuss your needs and determine whether infusion therapy can treat your pain.

Dr. Clop understands that the unexpected can cause hesitation, even when less pain may be the outcome. Here’s everything you need to know about what happens after a steroid injection or nerve block:

Relief might not be immediate

Getting infusions for back pain might provide months of less back pain, but you probably won’t notice a positive difference immediately. Some people feel extra soreness or tenderness for a few days after infusion.

Epidural steroid injections usually take 2-7 days to take effect. In the meantime, you can manage the soreness after your treatment by icing the area for a few minutes. Dr. Clop might also recommend taking over-the-counter pain medication to ease any extra discomfort.

Get ready to rest

You should limit activity for a few days after your infusion treatment. Don’t expect to jump into physical therapy immediately. Relaxing and avoiding unnecessary movement can help you heal faster and feel less sore.

Consider possible side effects

Dr. Clop will want to monitor you for a few minutes to an hour after your infusion to ensure you don’t have any negative reactions before heading home. Before your infusions, she tells you about possible side effects you might experience in the days after your treatment.

An epidural steroid injection can affect blood pressure or blood sugar, so it’s important to stay in tune with your body and let Dr. Clop know if you feel unusual.

Results can be long-lasting

We can’t promise how long pain relief from an infusion will last because the results are hard to predict and different for everyone. However, many people experience less pain up to a full year after an infusion.

Even if you experience just a few weeks or months of pain relief, the improvements may be enough to get you to the next phase of treatment, such as physical therapy. They might help you avoid or delay more intensive treatments like surgery.

Dr. Clop can help you decide on the next steps based on your infusion outcome. If you responded well to the first infusion, she might recommend another.