An epidural blood patch is a procedure to treat headaches caused by low pressure in the fluid around the spine and brain. Your own blood can seal a leak in the spine the same way a bicycle inner tube can be patched. This can happen because of a spinal fluid leak after a spinal procedure. In rare cases it may happen spontaneously (for no apparent reason). This pamphlet explains what is done during an epidural blood patch. Topics include: what to expect after the procedure, what to do after going…
This pamphlet explains what to watch for at home after having an epidural (medication in the space around your spine) for pain relief. For 30 days (1 month) after your epidural is taken out, there is a small risk that you may develop an infection. This is very rare. A list of symptoms that require you to visit to an Emergency Department is given.
An epidural is a way to give you pain medicine after surgery. It may give you better pain relief than other ways of receiving pain medicine. You may be more alert with an epidural than with other pain control methods. It can also help you move better after your surgery. This pamphlet explains the possible side effects of an epidural, what to expect for pain when you have an epidural, who will look after your epidural pain relief, and how long you will have the epidural. The French version of th…
This pamphlet will give you information to help you choose what pain relief options are right for you as you get ready for the birth of your baby. Every delivery is different, and not everyone will want or need all of the options we describe. If you have any questions, please talk with your primary health care provider. If you plan to deliver vaginally, it is important to think about your plans for pain relief during labour. Even if you plan to deliver without pain relief medications, it is a g…
This pamphlet will give you information to help you choose what pain relief options are right for you as you get ready for the birth of your baby. Every delivery is different, and not everyone will want or need the types of pain relief listed. If you have questions, talk with your doctor. If you plan to deliver vaginally, it is important to think about your plans for pain relief during labour. Even if you plan to deliver without pain relief medications, it is good to have a backup plan. Topics …
You and your doctor have decided that you need injections to manage your chronic (ongoing) pain. An injection is medication given using a needle. This pamphlet explains how well injections for chronic pain work, if the injections are painful, and common types of injections for chronic pain, including epidural steroids, facet joint injection, sacroiliac (SI joint) injection, and radiofrequency lesioning (RFG). The pamphlet also explains how to get ready for your injections, how an injection for …