• Reference Number: HEY1125/2026
• Departments: Pain Medicine
• Last Updated: 31 May 2026

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your treatment. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and the healthcare team but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team.

What is Sedation?

Sedation involves using small amounts of anaesthetic/sedative drugs to produce a ‘relaxed’ state. It makes you physically and mentally relaxed, but not unconscious. The drugs (sedatives) are usually given into a vein.

Sedation works quickly and the amount you receive will be decided by the anaesthetist or a health care professional trained in providing sedation.  Recovery after sedation is quicker than after a general anaesthetic.

Due to the level of sedation, you may feel drowsy, however some patients can still remember the procedure despite having sedation.

When would sedation be given?

This will be a joint decision between you and your consultant and is usually offered to reduce anxiety for minor procedures and treatments.  Sedation is not routinely offered for simple pain interventions. Most pain procedures can be performed under local anaesthetic (LA), which is considered to be the safest option.

Will I remember the procedure?

Most people will remember the procedure due to the low levels of sedation provided. Sedation is provided to make you feel relaxed, however you may still experience discomfort related to the pain procedure.

How will the sedation be given?

An anaesthetist or a trained healthcare professional administers sedation for pain procedures. Sedative medicines are given through a cannula inserted into a vein on the back of your hand or arm.

Will the sedation cause side effects?

Sedation can cause side effects which are generally short-lived (last a few hours). These include:

• Tiredness/drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Low blood pressure
• Poor sleep patterns
• Temporary memory loss
• Rarely shivering
• Allergy
• Nausea or even vomiting.
• Sometimes bruising may occur around the injection sites. This may be caused by a vein leaking blood around the cannula. It normally settles without treatment other than removing the cannula.

Can I request sedation?

If you feel you will require sedation, please discuss this with the consultant or nurse at your consultation/assessment. Sedation is not routinely offered for simple pain interventions.

If sedation is required, you will need to have a preoperative assessment before your procedure. You will receive an appointment for this.

What can I do to prepare for sedation?

You will need to arrange for someone to collect you after the procedure, you will not be allowed to drive home, or travel home on your own.

You will need to ensure you have someone to stay with you overnight after the procedure as the sedation effect can last up to 24 hours.

Make sure you bring all your medications with you to the hospital on the day of the procedure; you will be advised whether you need to stop your usual medications.

If you become unwell prior to your procedure such as a cold/flu, please ring the hospital as it may not be safe to have sedation and your appointment will need to be rescheduled.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please let us know.

Please remove all loose jewellery (other than a wedding ring), make-up, false nails before coming to the hospital.

You will receive information about when to stop eating and drinking before the procedure. Please follow these instructions otherwise your procedure may need to be re-scheduled.

If you are diabetic, you will receive specific instructions at your pre-assessment appointment regarding your diabetic medications and stopping eating on the day of the procedure.

What will happen after the injections?

After the injection you will be taken to a recovery or ward area where nursing staff will observe you. You may feel a little drowsy and wish to sleep. Sometimes you will be asked to lay flat for about 30 minutes or longer. You will be assisted to sit up and your blood pressure and pulse will be checked. You will be advised when to get dressed and be given assistance to help to ensure that you can stand safely after the procedure.

Points to remember

• You may feel weak or tired for a little while after the injection, so we advise that arrange for someone to stay with you for 24 hours and gently mobilise.
• You should not drive, nor operate machinery, sign legal documents, provide childcare unsupervised or drink alcohol for 24 hours.

Additional Information

If you are very concerned about how you feel after the procedure, please contact either the Pain Service during office hours; -.

Pain Service Outpatient Department East Riding Community Hospital, Beverley Tel: 01482 676100 / Tel: 01482 624179

In the event of an emergency and outside normal working hours of the Pain Service (9.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday) please contact your local doctor Local Walk in Clinic / Minor Injuries Unit

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.