Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 12/10/2006

Question
"I am considering getting some kind of help with the pain. I have severe neck and lumbar pain from ddd and bulging discs.  I was told to get L5-S1 injections.

I had severe reaction to shellfish in 2000.My throat closed off and my eyes swelled up and my pupils sunk back into my eyes, it was awful.
The ER Nurse told me to always say I have shellfish and iodine allergy.

Can I have Injections for pain with this allergy?
I am afraid of it happening again.  I did have contrast injection before MRI and Bone Scan, it did not bother me.  

Thanks for your time"


Answer
Pain shots are done unedr local anesthesia so there is no problem from your shellfish allergy. But do make sure to tell any anesthesiologist you have in the future that you have a severe shellfish allergy because some of our anesthetics (should you ever need general anesthesia) might trigger that reaction.


Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston