Services
Preparing for treatment and aftercare
Treatment is easier to plan when you know what matters beforehand and what to watch for afterwards. Can I take my medicines? Can I drive myself afterwards? And when is a reaction a reason to contact the practice?
Open individual sections or all the details on this page.
After treatment near the spine
After an image-guided injection near the spine, please stay with us for observation for at least 30 minutes; depending on how you feel, this may take longer. Please allow for this time. Whether you can then drive yourself or resume activity is decided individually. The time elapsed alone does not determine this.
If new symptoms occur during observation, tell our practice team immediately. New paralysis, numbness in the area between your legs or new problems with bladder or bowel control require immediate medical assessment. If you are still at or immediately outside our practice while it is open, tell the team immediately so that we can arrange further care. If you are already on your way or at home, call 112 immediately. Do not wait for a response from us, and do not drive yourself back with these symptoms. This applies regardless of our opening hours. For other unusual changes during consultation hours, contact our practice promptly and follow the aftercare instructions provided. If our practice cannot be reached promptly, have urgent, non-life-threatening symptoms assessed by your GP during consultation hours. Outside consultation hours, call 116117 if treatment cannot wait.
Understanding
A closer look
This page helps you prepare the right questions. You will receive specific advice for the examination or treatment agreed with you. Please follow this individual guidance and ask if information is missing or seems contradictory.
Have results and up-to-date lists ready
Bring any relevant medical letters and imaging reports you already have. For X-rays, MRI or CT, both the written report and the images are helpful, for example through a QR code or on CD. An up-to-date list of diagnoses and medicines is also helpful.
Before treatment for a bone health condition, previous DXA reports and details of earlier treatment are important too. Note the exact medicine, how you take or receive it, and the date of your last tablet, injection or infusion. This allows us to base further planning on reliable information.
Further information
Discuss medicines and new illnesses
Please do not stop medicines on your own before a planned procedure. This applies particularly to blood-thinning medicines. If an adjustment is necessary, it must be decided with your overall health in mind.
Tell us about a new infection, fever or a significant change in your condition before the procedure. Mention known allergies and previous unwanted reactions. A possible pregnancy may also be important for certain examinations and treatments. This helps us check whether the existing plan is still appropriate.
Describe your progress in a useful way
Note what has changed after treatment. A description such as “Stairs are easier, but sitting for a long time is still difficult” is often more helpful than simply “better” or “worse”. Timing matters too: when did a change begin, and how long did it last?
Tell us about an unexpected reaction or lack of improvement before another treatment. Together, we assess whether the original goal is still appropriate or a different step is needed. A treatment plan can be adapted to new information.
What remains important during ongoing osteoporosis treatment
For regular medication treatment, appointments and any monitoring need to suit the particular medicine. Please do not change the plan on your own. If a dose or treatment is missed, or you suspect side effects, contact us early and tell us which medicine you use.
Advice on nutrition or exercise does not automatically replace specifically recommended medication. Equally, a new DXA scan alone does not determine whether a medicine can be stopped. These questions belong in a medical follow-up review.
What to expect and next steps
Know what is planned before your appointment
Check which examination or treatment has been agreed and whether it is an initial assessment or follow-up appointment. An appointment for advice is not automatically an appointment for an injection. Even within a course, only the scope of treatment discussed together applies.
If you have received personal booking access, use the appointment type enabled for you. An online booking is only complete once you have received confirmation by email. If access is missing or the appointment has not been confirmed, please clarify this with the practice.
Plan your journey and the time afterwards
Whether you can drive yourself after treatment depends on the procedure, the medicines used and your response. Please clarify this beforehand, particularly for injections or procedures after which temporary changes in sensation or reduced tolerance of activity are possible.
Also ask whether someone should or must accompany you and whether to allow time for recovery afterwards. We want to avoid you discovering only after treatment that a planned working day or long journey does not fit the aftercare plan.
If we administer a medicine by injection at the practice as part of your treatment, please stay with us for observation for at least 30 minutes afterwards. Depending on how you feel, longer observation may be needed. Please allow for this time and tell the practice team immediately about new symptoms. This timing requirement applies to medicines administered by injection at our practice, not simply to a prescription or an agreed treatment you use at home.
After a joint injection or PRP treatment
For ACP and PRP, blood collection, preparation and injection take place at our practice during the same appointment. The appropriate level of activity afterwards and when you can resume training depend on the structure treated and your individual plan.
Mild local discomfort can occur after an injection. Clearly increasing pain, marked swelling, warmth or fever require prompt medical assessment. If there is a pronounced deterioration, do not wait until the next planned treatment. The warning signs discussed with you personally remain the guidance to follow.
Frequently asked questions
Do the same rules apply to all injections?
No. The treatment site, preparation, condition and personal risks differ. Follow the instructions for your specific procedure.
Can I choose follow-up appointments online myself?
Yes, if the continuation has been agreed with you by a doctor and your personal booking route has been enabled. Please clarify new symptoms or unexpected reactions beforehand.
Should I attend planned treatment if I have an infection?
Contact us beforehand and describe what has changed. Whether treatment can go ahead must be assessed for the specific procedure.
Where can I find help outside consultation hours?
For signs of an emergency, call 112. For urgent, non-life-threatening symptoms outside consultation hours, call 116117. Do not wait for a digital response from the practice in these situations.
Your next step
