How dangerous is an epidural steroid injection?

Very safe: In the right hands by a well qualified pain management physician these injections have a very low complication rate. There is always a risk. If done without sedation, under fluoroscopic guidance and with the appropriate steroids the risks are very low.

Minimal risk: Done by a professional with appropriate skill set under flouroscopic control for the right indications , the biggest risk is a spinal headache which is about a 2% risk and usually resolves on its own in a day or two.

Minimal : It is done as an outpatient, with or without fluoroscopy, with or without sedation. The main risks are spinal headache and pain at the injection site.

Generally safe: Epidural injections are generally very safe with a very low risk of complications. Headache, bleeding, nerve damage, infection, paralysis, and allergic reactions are all possible but occur infrequently.

Rare: The worse part of an epidural injection is typically the local anesthetic administered to numb the skin. After that the needle typically feels like pressure. However as the needle enters the spinal canal or around the nerve root there can be some pain that is transient. Complications can be bleeding, infection, nerve damage and paralysis, but these are extremely rare.

Varies: When done in the right hands, by certified doctors, and epidural injection should not pose undue danger. Working with the neck is somewhat more complex than the low back. Of course anytime you "stick" a needle in anyone anywhere there are risks. The main one always being infection.