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CT guided spinal steroid injections
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CT guided steroid injections are offered to patients with pain in their

  • back
  • neck
  • arms
  • shoulders
  • or legs
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Steroids are strong anti-inflammatory mediations that help reduce pain

Anti-inflammatory medications reduce inflammation (redness, swelling, and pain) in the body
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_4.png The injection targets nerves in the neck and back that may be causing your pain - if it works well you may not need to have surgery
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The CT Scanner
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_6.png A CT scanner is a type of x-ray machine that produces detailed images of your body
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_7.png During your scan, the radiology doctor uses the CT scanner images to see exactly where to give you your injection
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Getting ready for your injection
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Tell the medical team about all the medications you are taking - especially if you are taking

  1. anticoagulants like warfarin or heparin
  2. or anti-platelet medications like aspirin, clopidogrel or dipyridamole
If you are between 12 and 55 years old and might be pregnant, tell us straightaway
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_11.png We might still go ahead with the scan, or we might suggest a different treatment such as ultrasound guided injections
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_12.png Eat and drink as usual on the day
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_13.png Take all your usual medications, except for the medications mentioned earlier
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_14.png Have a quiet day after the injection

CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_15.png		 Bring someone with you who can look after you and go home with you
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_16.png You will be about 2 hours in the hospital
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Location
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_18.png You will have your steroid injection at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_19.png When you arrive at the hospital, you need to go to the Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology, located on the lower ground floor of the Chandler Wing
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On the day of your steroid injection
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_21.png We will ask you to sign a consent form before your injection
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_22.png If you have any worries or questions, feel free to talk about them with the medical team
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_23.png A nurse will give you an identity bracelet and a gown - or you can wear your own loose fitting clothes
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You will lie on the scanner bed - either on your back or tummy

It is important to stay still during the scan
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_25.png You will have a local anaesthetic to numb any pain at the injection site - it may sting a little bit
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_26.png The radiology doctor will out a needle into the place we think is causing your pain - it may tingle a little bit in that area
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_27.png The treatment takes about 20 minutes
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After your steroid injection
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_29.png You may feel some pain in the treated area - this usually does not last long
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_30.png We will ask you to stay with us for up to 1 hour after your injection
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_31.png A nurse will check how you are feeling - you may have some numbness in your arm or leg so take extra care when walking
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_32.png It may take up to 1 week for the injection to help reduce your pain
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_33.png Continue taking your usual painkillers as needed
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_34.png You can carry on doing all of your normal activities during this time

We will ask you to come to an outpatient appointment in about 6 weeks to talk about how well the treatment has worked
CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_36.png Pain relief from the injection can last from weeks to months - this will vary because every patient is different
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Risks and problems

This is a safe treatment - rare risks are
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  • sometimes the injection does not help your pain - your doctor can suggest other treatments that might work better for you
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  • an allergic reaction to dye in the injection - dye is not often used during CT scans
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  • the CT scanner has only the smallest risk of causing cancers
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  • the very rare risk of accidently injecting other areas of your body where the result is serious damage to the brain or spine
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If you do not want steroid injections

CT_guided_spinal_steroid_injections_EasyRead_43.png		 It is your choice if you want to have a steroid injection
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If you choose not to have a steroid injection, your doctor will suggest other treatments that might help

This could include
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  • physiotherapy
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  • surgery
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  • or other types of pain relief

Contact Details

Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology

The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, 

Queen Square,

London WC1N 3BG
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Phone us on

Reception 

020 34 48 47 44 

Appointment enquiries

020 34 48 31 03 

020 34 48 31 06 

020 34 48 31 07 

Switchboard 0845 1555000
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Email us at

uclh.enquiry.nhnmrapp@nhs.net

 

CT guided spinal steroid injections easy read

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Service information

Page last updated: 17 October 2024

Review due: 01 October 2026