Preparation for Procedure

Welcome and thank you for choosing Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center for your procedure. Our physicians, nurses and technologists are dedicated to providing highly skilled and compassionate care for you and your family. We understand that you may be apprehensive about your procedure. We hope the following information will be helpful to you as you prepare for the procedure and during your recovery.

The Radiology department is on the 3rd floor of Memorial’s Main Building.

We want to make your experience as comfortable as possible. If you have any questions or concerns that are not answered here, please do not hesitate to call your physician or the Radiology department at (814) 534-9166.

Before Your Procedure

Your physician’s office will schedule the date and time of your procedure with Central Scheduling. If you can’t remember when you are scheduled please call your physician or the Radiology Department at (814) 534-9166 between 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

If you have questions about your insurance coverage or pre-certification, call your insurance company. If you are not covered by insurance, please make arrangements for payment by calling the business office at (814) 410-8470.

Your physician may also order laboratory tests which will be done the day of the procedure.

If you develop a cough, cold, abnormal temperature, sore throat, flu-like symptoms; or come in contact with anyone suffering from measles, chickenpox or any other communicable disease within 2 weeks prior to your procedure please call your physician. It may be necessary to reschedule your procedure for a time when you are feeling better.

On the Morning of Your Procedure

Shower or bathe the morning of your procedure. Do not use any lotion, creams, or powder on your body. Wear loose fitting, clean, comfortable clothing and flat shoes. Do not bring any valuables with you.

Please bring any order that your physician’s office provided for you. If you were not contacted by pre-registration please bring your identification and insurance cards.
Bring any requested x-ray, CT, or MRI images with you on the day of the procedure.

Day of the Procedure

Parking is available in the parking garage on Franklin Street or you can use the valet at the Main Entrance on Franklin Street. Please bring your parking ticket with you to receive a token for free parking in the garage.

When you arrive at the hospital on the day of your procedure, check in at the Outpatient desk. It is located on the first floor of Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. As you arrive through the main entrance on Franklin Street, turn left just before you enter the Atrium. You will be registered for your procedure and escorted to the Radiology Department.

When you arrive on the unit you may be given a hospital gown to wear. Healthcare professionals will be available in this area to make you comfortable and to answer your questions. Your safety is our number one priority.

The staff may ask you the same questions several times; they will ask your name, birth date, what procedure you are having done, your medications and your allergies. By repeating our questions, we are verifying and re-verifying very important information to ensure that your time with us is as safe as possible.

During Your procedure

You will be seen by a Radiologist or Physician’s Assistant. Your physician will ask you to sign a consent form, which legally permits your physician to perform your procedure. He will review any potential risks including allergic reaction, infection, depigmentation or whitening of the skin, thinning of the skin, swelling at the joint or rupture of a tendon in the hip.

You will be taken to the procedure room and helped onto the table. You will lie on the x-ray table. The people around you in the room will be preparing for your procedure. The skin over your hip is cleaned and may be covered with sterile towels

Medicine is given to numb the skin near the injection site. You may feel a sting that lasts several seconds. A contrast “dye” may be injected into your hip. This helps get a better image to direct a very small needle into the joint, avoiding nerves or other injury. A mixture of a local anesthetic for numbing and cortisone (steroids) for reducing inflammation are slowly injected into the joint. There is a small amount of synovial fluid in this capsule to provide lubrication and prevent friction during movement of the joint. The injection itself takes just a few minutes.

The physician will speak with you or your family about the results immediately after procedure is finished. You may not obtain immediate pain relief. It may take several days (two to five days) for the cortisone to decrease your pain if the hip joint was the source of your pain.

Your time in the procedure room will vary between 30 minutes to 60 minutes, allowing for prep time and recovery.

After Your Procedure

Your written discharge instructions will include information on post procedural care.

You should rest for the remainder of the day after your procedure. No heavy lifting or driving. Gradually increase activities to avoid return of the pain. Drink liquids as tolerated and eat a light meal. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours following your procedure.

They will also include a list of symptoms that would require you to notify your physician. This includes fever over 101 degrees. You may feel numb or experience a slightly weak or odd feeling in the leg for a few hours after the injection if so make sure you inform your physician.

You may have an increase in pain for the first several days as the numbing medication wears off and the cortisone is starting to take effect. Unless contraindicated, using covered cold packs over the area for twenty minutes at a time for the first several days may help relieve discomfort.

Please inform your physician if no relief is obtained after ten days. You may need additional or alternate treatment.

Thank-you for allowing us to take care of you during your sacro iliac or hip joint injection.