CT guided injections are used to deliver medications straight into an area (typically back and neck) that is effected by extreme pain. These injections are considered when traditional physiotherapy and oral pain killers have not provided relief.

There are three main types of injections;

1. Facet Joint Injections
2. Perineural Injections
3. Epidural Injections.

Occasionally these injections are performed to help diagnose the cause of the pain. 

If you are, or may be, pregnant or if you are diabetic.

Please also advise us if you have a recent history of peptic ulcers.

Please bring your referral, Medicare and Pension Health Care Cards with any previous imaging relating to the region being scanned.

Please confirm with your Doctor that you should continue taking your normal medicines.

You will need someone to accompany you in order to ensure you get home safely.

You will be asked to lie face down on the CT table. We will then take a planning CT scan.

At the area of your injection, you’ll receive a local anaesthetic. The radiologist will place a very fine needle into the exact location to be injected using CT guidance. Medication is then injected into the area - the medication includes an anaesthetic plus an anti-inflammatory.

The anaesthetic should start working before you leave our practice, and will wear off after approx 8 hours. The anti-inflammatory is long lasting - with the effects up to 3 months - however it may not begin working for several (2-7) days following the injection.

A CT Guided Injection normally takes around 15 minutes.

You may experience numbness in the legs, arms, back or face. This should last only for a few hours.

It is usual to experience immediate pain relief with the pain returning around 8 hours later. Then at anytime from 2 days later, you should start experiencing relief from the anti inflammatory.

Avoid exercise and strenuous activity for around 2 weeks.

After your examination, you will be given a copy of the most pertinent images from your study. A report will be given to you with the images, or sent directly back to your referring doctor by fax or email. We will store digital copies of all studies on our secure database for comparison with any future examinations.

Please bring any previous imaging with you for comparison.

It is important that you return to your doctor with your examination results. Whether they are normal or abnormal, your doctor needs to know promptly so that a management plan can be formulated.

Although these are not common, possible risks include;

• Bleeding at the injections site.
  
• Infection in the epidural space.
  
• You may have a headache for a few days if the fluid sac around the nerves is punctured.
  
• Spinal cord injury (very rare).

Please seek medical advice if any unusual symptoms persist.