•
•
•
•
•
•
Continue to take all your usual tablets including your pain
killers.
If you have a dressing or plaster on the injection site, please
remove it the next day.
Remember that pain relief may take a few days to take
effect.
You can eat and drink normally unless told otherwise.
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours.
Following your treatment, you will be sent an appointment for
the Pain Clinic. This may be a telephone call appointment.
Piriformis Injection
Pain Management
Other information
If you are taking Warfarin or Clopidogrel, you can restart taking it
the evening after your procedure.
(Please read this leaflet before your appointment)
Any questions?
If you have any questions, write them down and bring them with
you when you come for your injection.
Feedback
We appreciate and encourage feedback. If you need advice or
are concerned about any aspect of care or treatment please
speak to a member of staff or contact the Patient Advice and
Liaison Service (PALS):
Freephone (City Hospital campus): 0800 052 1195
Freephone (QMC campus): 0800 183 0204
From a mobile or abroad: 0115 924 9924 ext 65412 or 62301
Minicom: 0800 183 0204
E-mail: [email protected]
Letter: NUH NHS Trust, c/o PALS, Freepost NEA 14614,
Nottingham NG7 1BR
www.nuh.nhs.uk
Pain Management Department © March 2011. All rights reserved. Nottingham
University Hospitals NHS Trust. Review March 2013. Ref: 0979/v1/0311/CR.
If you have any problems, contact your GP.
In the event of an emergency after your procedure, contact your
local Emergency Department.
This document can be provided in different languages and
formats. For more information please contact:
Pain Management Department
City Hospital campus
Direct Line: 0115 8402652
What is a Piriformis Injection?
It is an injection around the buttocks.
The piriformis is a muscle in the buttock area that goes from the
side of the tailbone to the side of the thighbone. The muscle can
become inflamed or spasm, causing pain in the buttock and
thigh. To help with pain, the muscle can be injected with a
solution of local anaesthetic and steroid. The local anaesthetic
causes the muscle fibres to relax and provides immediate pain
relief and the steroid helps relieve inflammation to provide
longer lasting pain relief.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
You will be asked to change into a hospital gown.
You will have a small drip put into your hand.
You will be asked to lie on the X-ray table, on your front.
The area for injection will be cleaned with antiseptic.
You will be given a local anaesthetic to numb the skin around
the area for injection.
The doctor will then give you the piriformis injection (usually
a combination of local anaesthetic and a steroid drug) using
the x-ray machine for guidance.
It may be uncomfortable, but should not be too painful.
It normally takes around 10 minutes to give the injection.
You will be asked to stay in hospital for a short while
afterwards for observation.
What are the possible side effects/complications?
•
•
•
•
•
It may not work.
It may make the pain worse.
Soreness or bruising at the site of injection.
Allergic reaction to the drugs used.
You may have a numb legs/buttocks.
Will this help my pain?
Why is the injection given?
It is given to treat pain in the lower back/buttock/sciatica type leg
pain. Piriformis muscle injections are both diagnostic injections
and therapeutic injections, meaning that they can help your
doctor determine the cause of your back pain
What does the injection involve?
•
•
•
Please inform the doctor if you are taking blood-thinning
drugs such as Warfarin or Clopidogrel.
The procedure will be explained to you by the doctor, you will
be asked to sign a consent form before the injection is given.
You should empty your bladder before the procedure.
•
•
•
•
What do I need to do when I get home?
•
•
•
•
•
•
2
We hope it will help your pain, but there is no guarantee.
It may take a few days to start to give you pain relief.
It may even make the pain worse at first.
The pain relief may last anywhere between a few days to
months.
You must not drive home or take public transport, you
must arrange transport.
It is advised that someone is at home with you until the next
day.
You will not be able to weight bear.
Rest for 24 hours as the treatment may make you feel tired.
After 24 hours try to increase your activity as this will
strengthen your muscles and may improve your pain.
Do not drive or operate machinery until the next day.
3