Preparing for Your Pain Management Appointment

You’ve made an important and brave step in your journey to living a pain-free life by scheduling a pain management procedure. We understand that when you make your first appointment at Southside Pain Specialists, you might feel nervous or unsure about how to prepare, but there’s no need to be worried. Our team is ready to answer any questions you may have and provide personal, quality care to help you manage your pain.

These are a few tips we recommend when preparing for your pain management procedure to ensure you feel comfortable, stay safe, and get the best results possible.

No Eating or Drinking 8 Hours Before Your Procedure

Don’t eat or drink anything within 8 hours prior to your procedure time. Eating or drinking also includes smoking, dipping, candy, chewing gum, or ingesting anything by mouth. This is an important rule to ensure your procedure is effective and avoid procedure complications.

Most morning medications may be taken with a small sip of water. If you take medications in the morning, tell your doctor about it so they can supply you with further instructions if needed.

Avoid Taking Aspirin or Blood Thinners Before Your Procedure

Do not take any aspirin or blood thinners within 7 days of your procedure. Both of these medications are antiplatelets, which means they reduce your body’s ability to form clots. Avoiding these medications is important because some pain management procedures involve injections or minimally invasive surgeries.

By avoiding these medications, you can decrease the risk of excess bleeding during your procedure. We recommend you consult your prescribing physician if you have any questions about the medication you are taking and how it will affect your pain management procedure.

Bring Someone to Drive You Home

You must have a driver present for the duration of your appointment. Many pain management procedures can cause associated numbness, weakness, and dullness of certain senses, which can make it difficult and potentially dangerous to operate an automobile.

All of these side effects will wear off within a day or so and you can safely drive again shortly. Your provider will give you a specific time range to avoid driving so you can make arrangements as necessary. If you are wondering about other side effects specific to your procedure, please feel free to ask your pain specialists about what to expect.

Important Deadlines

We ask our patients to arrive 30 minutes early for their appointment with their driver present. This allows time for patient intake and gives you a chance to ask any last-minute questions about your procedure.
If you need to cancel your pain management appointment, you must notify our office a minimum of 24 hours in advance, or you will be charged a no-show fee. We want to provide our patients with the best care, and following a well-planned schedule helps us spend plenty of time addressing patient concerns and needs.

Procedure Questions

Our cost-effective and evidence-based treatments will help you to address your chronic pain in the best way for you. At Southside Pain Specialists, we are prepared to help you by being open, honest, and giving you space to explore all of your options. We encourage you to ask questions and express concerns at your initial appointment, but, if anything comes up before your procedure, don’t hesitate to call our office.

Learn More About Pain Management Procedures

Navigating all your different pain management options and procedures can feel overwhelming, but we do our best to make sure you feel confident and prepared. Our physicians are board-certified and have decades of experience working with various pain mitigation techniques. We will work with you to build a customized treatment plan, so you can manage your chronic pain.
Don’t be afraid to voice any questions or concerns! Our entire team is ready to answer any questions and provide a comfortable environment tailored to your specific needs.

Effectively Manage Your Pain with Southside Pain Specialists

At Southside Pain Specialists, we pride ourselves on creating a safe and comfortable environment for patient procedures to help you get the relief you deserve. Our staff provides quality care alongside effective treatment. Call us at 205-881-0127 or contact us online to schedule an appointment today. Begin your journey towards a pain-free life today!