Once you have completed your IDET procedure, the following steps will be taken right away:
- A sterile dressing will be applied to cover the area of the needle stick on your back.
- You will be taken to a room for observation to make sure you’re recovering properly and there are no complications.
- After about 1 hour of observation, you may be released from the recovery room with a prescription for painkillers.
- You will need someone else to take you home—your doctor may not allow you to drive for a few days.
In the first 3-5 days after IDET, your doctor may tell you that you should do the following:
- Rest
- Use ice packs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or other pain medications as instructed by your doctor.
- Avoid exertion (no lifting).
- Limit sitting and walking to 10-20 minutes at a time.
- Avoid driving.
During the first week after IDET, it is normal for your back pain to be greater than it was before the procedure. This should pass by the end of the second week.
- Safely returning to work depends on the physical requirements of your job. If your job involves mostly sitting and walking, as in an office setting, you may be able to return within a week, but some soreness may persist. Talk to your doctor about returning to work.