Getting ready for your Injection Opinion appointment
If you have an Injection Opinion appointment coming up, you may be wondering what to expect and how to prepare. An Injection Opinion appointment is with a clinician who specialises in supporting people living with pain. The purpose of the appointment is to explore whether treatments such as injections may help manage your symptoms.
Your appointment may take place over the phone, by video call or face to face. During the appointment, the clinician will take time to understand your pain, discuss any previous treatments and help you understand the options available to you.
In this short video, we’ll explain what an Injection Opinion appointment is, what happens during the appointment and some simple things you can do to prepare. Our aim is to help you feel informed, comfortable and ready to take part in decisions about your care.
Before your appointment
What is an Injection Opinion appointment?
An Injection Opinion appointment is with a clinician who specialises in supporting people affected by pain.
The appointment focuses on understanding your symptoms and deciding whether specialist treatments, such as injections, could help manage your pain.
Appointments can take place:
- By phone
- By video call
- Face to face
Most appointments last between 20 and 30 minutes.
How to get ready
Before your appointment, it can be helpful to:
- Think about any patterns in your pain.
- Make a note of activities or movements that improve your symptoms.
- Make a note of activities or movements that make your pain worse.
- Gather information about any treatments, procedures or injections you have had before.
- Consider how much relief previous treatments gave you and how long the benefit lasted.
- Write down any questions you would like to ask.
If your appointment is by phone or video call:
- Find a quiet, private place where you can talk comfortably.
- Make sure you will not be interrupted.
- Do not attend the appointment while driving.
During your appointment
Your clinician will ask questions to better understand your pain and how it affects you.
They may ask about:
- Your symptoms and daily activities.
- Previous treatments or procedures.
- What helps your pain.
- What makes your pain worse.
- How your symptoms have changed over time.
If your appointment is face to face, the clinician may also:
- Ask you to perform some simple movements.
- Examine certain areas of your body.
- Check how movement affects your symptoms.
This assessment helps the clinician understand your condition and decide whether injections or other specialist treatments may be appropriate.
You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns you have about treatment options.
After your appointment
By the end of the appointment, you and your clinician will agree on the next steps.
This may include:
- Discussing whether injections are suitable for you.
- Exploring other treatment options.
- Learning about the possible benefits and risks of different treatments.
- Referring you for further assessment or treatment if needed.
- Receiving advice on managing your symptoms.
The clinician will make sure you understand your options and support you in making an informed decision about your care.