Does UFE hurt?
You will not have any pain during your UFE. Most of my patients enjoy watching the progress of the procedure (you can see the same images I am seeing) and chat with me as we progress. We will play the type of music you like to listen to as long as you tell us what you want to hear. And of course you can close your eyes and go to sleep, though I may wake you up from time to time to ask you to hold your breath for just a moment.
After your UFE you will experience at least some discomfort (pelvic cramping and back pain). Since introducing the nerve block in 2012 we have all but eliminated the pelvic pain patients used to get with UFE. The block is not perfect so we are prepared to treat you even if you get significant pain.
We ask our patients to rate their pain on a scale of 0-10, with 0 being painless and 10 being the worst pain imaginable. Before the we started using the nerve block most of my patients had 7-8/10 pain after UFE that dropped to 4/10 by the next day. With the nerve block the pain is 0-2/10
If for some reason we cannot offer you the nerve block or you do not want it, this is what I used to tell all of my patients: "My patients say the pain is anywhere between their usual period pain to as bad as a labor cramp that will not stop. This discomfort starts within 30 minutes after your UFE and gets as bad as it is going to get within 2-3 hours. It stays that way for 8-12 hours and then rapidly dissipates. By the morning after your UFE the pain is usually much improved. We will work with you to keep you as pain-free as possible. You will be in control of a pump that you use to self-administer pain medication as you need it. When you are ready to switch to pills for discomfort, you are ready to go home."
After your UFE you will experience at least some discomfort (pelvic cramping and back pain). Since introducing the nerve block in 2012 we have all but eliminated the pelvic pain patients used to get with UFE. The block is not perfect so we are prepared to treat you even if you get significant pain.
We ask our patients to rate their pain on a scale of 0-10, with 0 being painless and 10 being the worst pain imaginable. Before the we started using the nerve block most of my patients had 7-8/10 pain after UFE that dropped to 4/10 by the next day. With the nerve block the pain is 0-2/10
If for some reason we cannot offer you the nerve block or you do not want it, this is what I used to tell all of my patients: "My patients say the pain is anywhere between their usual period pain to as bad as a labor cramp that will not stop. This discomfort starts within 30 minutes after your UFE and gets as bad as it is going to get within 2-3 hours. It stays that way for 8-12 hours and then rapidly dissipates. By the morning after your UFE the pain is usually much improved. We will work with you to keep you as pain-free as possible. You will be in control of a pump that you use to self-administer pain medication as you need it. When you are ready to switch to pills for discomfort, you are ready to go home."