Patients generally feel temporary discomfort as the needle passes through the muscle or near a nerve root. The physician may perform this at more than one disc level. Following the Cat Scan, patients are returned to the recovery area where they are monitored for 30 - 60 minutes. Patients are usually given prescription for pain medication to take for a few days following the procedure. This helps with muscle discomfort that may exist after this procedure.
Patients can eat a light meal within a few hours before the procedure.
If a patient is an insulin dependent diabetic, they must not change their normal eating pattern prior to the procedure. Patients may take their routine medications. Patients should not take pain medications or anti-inflammatory medications the day of their procedure. Patients have to be hurting prior to this procedure. They may not take medications that may give pain relief or lessen their usual pain.