HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

How long to wait for bath or home hot tub after injections?

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/7/2015 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

My dr. suggested I wait a week after I get my diagnostic facet injections. (She'll probably say the same thing regarding epidurals or any other procedures I may get in the future.)

When I go online, all my research from other pain centers, giving injections, at universities and highly respected facilities, say to wait 24 hours.

My home hot tub is sparkling clean and gives me exceptional pain relief. I test and balance it every day. I would like to use it after waiting 24 hours. (Or, if need be, 48 hours. I would even be willing to apply waterproof Tegaderm bandages, though of course I would have to guess where the injection points were.) A week seems really long to me.

I am curious how long others wait after injections before they take a bath or use their home hot tub? And, how long would you wait before using a public swimming pool or hot tub? For that I could understand waiting longer.

Many thanks.
Posted 1/7/2015 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Jeesh, my drs have never said to wait before showering after injections. None of it has been in the after care instructions either now that I think about it.
Posted 1/7/2015 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
The paperwork I've always have gotten say for the first 24 hours on and off with ICE and a bath can be resumed after 24 hours.. you can also call and ask your doctor... there is also a waiting time for showers it should be in your post op proceedure handouts...
Posted 1/8/2015 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
You don't want an infection in the spine, so you should wait until the injection site is healed. If the doc says a week, then it's a week. It's a small price to pay for not getting an infection in the spine.

A shower is a lot different than a hot tub soak.

Is the diagnostic facet to see if an ablation will work? After an ablation you really should wait the week!
Posted 1/8/2015 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry, I agree with Alcie, hot tub defer from regular tubs in that chlorine or bromine are used to kill germs but these chemicals might also irritate and burn your wound site so wait the week until your healed up...a shower should be okay after 24 hours .... I missed the hot tub part in your posting and was not thinking about the chemicals when I wrote my first reply...The chemical in your hot tub are stronger than those in a shower....
Posted 1/8/2015 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
The procedure was for a diagnostic injection; i've had two so far, one to the low back and one to the neck. had the low back one yesterday.

thanks everyone for your input. i wish i could understand why on the internet all the pain centers say wait 24 hours.

best, and with appreciation, lotus
Posted 1/9/2015 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
Curious: could others tell me how long they wait until they take a *bath* after an epidural or facet block?

forget the hot tub part if need be.

thanks!
Posted 1/9/2015 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
Funny I have never been told to wait more than 24 Hours after an epidural injection! In fact the longest time I've ever had to go before showering was just recently when I had my total right knee replacement done last month! I couldn't shower and get my leg wet till 24 hours after I had the staples removed and they wouldn't remove the staples till 14 days after the surgery!

I'm not at all sure why they would want you to wait a full week after such an injection?? I think I would be asking your doctor what his/her reasoning for that was! After all you have the right to know the person is working for YOU!

White Beard
Posted 1/9/2015 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, everyone. No one has told me not to take a shower.

But they said, WAIT A WEEK before a bath or hot tub.

Since this is a crucial part of my daily routine i am curious does anyone else have restrictions on BATHS .... (or hot tubs) after 24 hours? I can't find it anywhere in the literature.

When i had a melanoma taken out they told me the same thing, wait a week. (The sutres were in my upper back.) Somehow it might make more sense with sutres than injections.... but...

I've already asked and didn't get a good answer, it's just their policy to protect against infections.
Posted 1/9/2015 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
I know the answer for a hot tub and its because of the higher amounts of chlorine and bromine that is used to sanitize the water for more than 1person and that chlorine in higher amounts could burn your open wound. Injections do cause an open wound and that wound is opened up to a possible spinal headache and for possible spinal fluids to leak so you need to use caution.

City water and well waters might also have chlorine in it along with add floride in city water which could possibly irritate a wound, these chemicals are usually in smaller amounts that your hot tub but could still cause a problem for an open wound that's why its a 24 hour wait instead of a week for a hot tub...

There are so many added chemicals to your water anymore and the doctor has to cover his liabilities issues.

Hope this helps better...
Posted 1/9/2015 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
Have your water tested you'd be surprised what's in it...and chloine can burn wounds and cause infection...
Posted 1/9/2015 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone! i get it -more- now.

They also said NO BATHS for a week. (say what?)

I appreciate all the input. I find this a friendly, helpful forum. <hearts> to all.

enjoy your day, everyone.
Posted 1/11/2015 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
a bit of EO's bath soak with Epsom salts , Pink Sea salt, Arnica, Lemon, Eucalytus, pine essential oils, maybe 2 to 4 drops lavendar or Ylang Ylang or Clary Sage. Tea TRee 1 drop you should avoid infection. Star Anise is real good for this.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply