"Will I have to have general anesthesia?
No. Intravenous sedation and local anesthesia are all that are necessary. A special bone needle is slowly passed through the pedicle into the vertebral body.

"How soon will I experience pain relief?"
Most people experience significant pain relief within 1-2 days.

"Is vertebroplasty risky?"
As with any medical procedure, there are risks. For vertebroplasty, these include transient nerve root irritation, spinal compression, and allergic reaction. Your AMI interventional radiologist will further explain the risks, as well as the benefits and alternatives of this procedure.