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Driving after Spinal Injection?
Getting my 3rd Lumbar injection Friday. The 1st 2 were under anesthesia. THis one will be Caudal, and they will be doing with me awake, and I am not looking forward to that first stick! 🙂 BUT - the office tells me I do not need a driver. Everything I read says that after a spinal injection you shouldn't drive for 24 hours. It's about a 40 minute drive, and will be at rush hour. Anyone had the injection and drove themselves home?
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They tell me that I can’t drive if I’ve had anesthesia. If they don’t make you sleepy you should be fine.
Good luck!
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1 Reaction@fiddleflyer I was thinking that's why the sites I've looked at ALL all say you can't drive - anesthesia. But then I realize that most of those also talk about giving a shot of anesthesia to numb the area - so it seems they are talking about no general anesthesia so that can't be the reason. Hopefully I can at least throw the ball for the dog afterwards 🙂
When I had them at the hospital pain clinic I needed a driver. When at the clinic setting then no driver needed.
As long as you are not being sedated for the injection, it is safe to drive. Note, however, that while it is safe to drive, it may be uncomfortable to drive.
@vincescs my doc gives me a Zanax; so, the shot doesn’t hurt so much. Because of the Zanax, I need a driver to get home. Without the Zanax, you can drive yourself. But, ask for the Zanax, it’s worth it.
@vincescs
Wouldn't it be equally uncomfortable to ride unless one was lying down? If one can manage it just drive.
@srquser What comes to my mind with your questions about driving immediately after spinal injection is what does your car insurance company think about this? If an accident were to happen, that may be brought up against you by another party. There can be issues with spinal injections if something goes wrong or you have a bad reaction to it. I did have a bad reaction to a cervical spine injection, and it caused extreme painful shooting electric burning pain that was unpredictable that kept hitting me every several minutes. I do not think driving would be safe for me with that kind of distraction, and there was no anesthesia involved. I had those electric pains zapping me for about 6 weeks and I believe it was a reaction such as an allergy or inflammation caused by an ingredient in the steroid injection. I suspect it was PEG (polyethylene glycol).
I prefer the spinal injections ESI without General anesthesia. I always drove myself. Sometimes they numb the skin first then a numbing shot which does hurt for maybe 30 seconds and after that the cortisone shot.
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1 Reaction@srquser I am a frequent flyer for spinal injections , and it is only recently I am allowed to drive home. Prior I had to have a driver. I think liability if a person has an accident would come into play possibly, but I don’t know. It’s 2025, and people sue just because they can not because they should or shouldn’t! I try to err on the side of caution. If I can get a family member to take me, I prefer that option. Irene5
@irene5
One should always use their own judgement. If you can get a driver OR a cab then do that. I expect the hospital/clinic might also have some liability which is why they require you to have a driver.