I am quite freaked out. You become confused or have difficulty speaking. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Go slowly at first. The CT angiogram views the channel (lumen) of the vessels for any hard plaque buildup that would cause a narrowing of the vessel for blood flow and if serious could cause symptoms of chest pain, etc. You may have a bit of pain after an angiogram, but there may be a problem if the catheter site is very painful or if you also have swelling and/or redness. It may also be used to guide in the placement of medicine or other materials to treat cancer or bleeding in the abdomen. Change your bandage if it gets wet or dirty. If your wound bleeds, use your hand to put pressure on the bandage. • Walk slowly for the first 3 to 4 days after your angiogram. You'll only have the procedure if the benefits outweigh any potential risk. Women should limit alcohol to 1 drink a day. Your hand and forearm may be sore or bruised. They tell me there are risks in this test. Minimize physical activity, and you want to make sure that you take your medications as prescribed. You will want to take it slow. Doctor should check: Pain may be from an injury to the blood vessel (artery) used for the angiogram. Dislocation of the brain tissue, caused by pressure within the brain due to swelling, bleeding, or other reasons (herniation) A tear in an artery; Increased pressure within the brain; Fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus) A cerebral arteriogram may be used to locate or assess clips on blood vessels placed during previous surgical procedures. If you need to cough, support the area where the catheter was inserted with your hand. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. An angiogram is performed to detect blockages in the blood vessels that obstruct the blood supply to different body parts. X Your catheter site is red, leaks pus, or smells bad. This is especially true if they are carbonated, such as … Increased pain or discomfort around the wound, Signs of infection, such as redness, drainage or fever, Any changes in temperature or color of the leg or arm that was used for the procedure, Bleeding that continues after you have applied 2-3 fingers pressure to the puncture site for 15 minutes, A "golf ball" size lump or bruise over the puncture site area, Feeling faint, weak, lightheaded, dizzy or clammy. The leg or arm used for your angiogram is numb, painful, or changes color. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The bruise at your catheter site gets bigger or becomes swollen. % of people told us that this article helped them. When you must use stairs, step up with the leg that was. Talk with you doctor about returning to bowling as they feel appropriate. ", because I panic at the idea of having my groin cut. Abdominal pain after coronary bypass surgery can be mild or considerable, and make the patient think something is wrong. Cerebral angiography is a very detailed, clear and accurate picture of the blood vessels in the brain. You may have a bit of pain after an angiogram, but there may be a problem if the catheter site is very painful or if you also have swelling and/or redness. The source for pain after a cath procedure can be the skin, nerves, muscles, tendons or blood vessel walls. Pain, swelling, or redness where the catheter was inserted. Always follow the instructions given by your doctor or local hospital. The liver, pancreas, and gallbladder work together to support digestion. This article really reassured me. However, if your bleeding is more than light and does not seem to be slowing down, then call your doctor right away. My tension was released. These fluids will help to wash the dye out of your body used during the angiogram. Keep reading to learn more about how to recover from an angiogram. Causes of Pain After Cath Procedures. As the local anesthesia wears off, you may feel some pain and discomfort from your procedure. After an angiogram, your groin or arm may have a bruise and feel sore for a day or two. The tests indicated a blockage. Pain medicine works better if you take it before the pain gets bad. Excessive bleeding from the place that the catheter was inserted. Alcohol. Your healthcare provider will tell you when it is safe to drive and start doing your other normal daily activities. A little bit of blood after an angiogram is normal, but there may be a problem if the blood can't be stopped with a small bandage. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers. Do not walk around after an angiogram until your doctor says you may. You have dizziness, a severe headache, or vision loss. It produces a cerebral angiogram, or an image that can help your doctor find blockages … The doctor inserted a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in your groin. This is normal and should settle within a few days. Seek care immediately if the bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes. Your arm or leg feels warm, tender, and painful. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Research and education center within the National Institutes of Health, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Recover-From-an-Angiogram-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Recover-From-an-Angiogram-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Recover-From-an-Angiogram-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1321634-v4-728px-Recover-From-an-Angiogram-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"