What happens after facet joint injection?

The injection site may feel tender, bruised, or numb for a short time. Local anaesthetic can make pain feel better early, while the anti-inflammatory medicine may take longer to have an effect. Relief can be partial or temporary, and the response helps your clinician judge whether the facet joint is contributing to your symptoms.

Your clinician may review your movement, pain pattern, and response during a later appointment. If symptoms return or relief is limited, the plan may include physiotherapy, medication review, or discussion of another spine procedure such as Radiofrequency Ablation.

Keep the dressing clean and follow the specific instructions you were given. Take it easy for the rest of the day, then resume ordinary activity gradually if you feel comfortable. Avoid strenuous lifting or exercise until your treating team says it is suitable. Write down pain levels, movement changes, numbness, and how long any relief lasts; this gives the follow-up visit useful detail.

Contact the treating service promptly for increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, fever, or pain that is becoming severe rather than settling. Seek urgent care for new leg or arm weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, spreading numbness, fainting, or trouble breathing. These symptoms need assessment and should not be explained away as routine injection soreness.

Ask when you may drive, exercise, or return to work; which pain medicines are appropriate; how to record the injection response; and when follow-up should occur if relief is absent or short-lived.