What are the common risks of epidural steroid injections?

Question

What medical issues could arise after repeated epidural steroid injections?

Answer 1

Rare: In the hands of someone experienced epidural injections are very safe. They are done often under light sedation and utilize x-ray for proper placement. Most common risks are dural puncture leading to a leak of cerebrospinal fluid. This can lead to headaches. Once recognized there are ways to treat this. Other risks are injection site pain, infection and bleeding.

Answer 2

Epidural complicatio: The general risks of epidural injections (steroids or other wise) are: infection (meningitis, epidural abscess), bleeding, back pain localized to injection site (may last up to 3 weeks), nerve injury and accidental dural puncture causing headaches.

Answer 3

Like Any Other Inj: 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.

Answer 4

Minimal: Localized increase in pain. Non-positional headaches resolving within 24 hours. Facial flushing. Anxiety. Sleeplessness. Fever the night of injection. High blood sugar. A transient decrease in immunity because of the suppressive effect of the steroid.

Answer 5

Failed other options: Epidurals are often used to help relieve pain from an inflammed disc or pinched nerve. These may be used to relieve back pain after a conservative trial of medication, physical therapy, and rest.

Answer 6

Epdural: An epidural injection is useful when you have a radiculopathy or a pinched nerve in your neck or back.

Answer 7

Never: Nobody ever "needs" an epidural. It is an elective procedure that is part of the treatment continuum for disc disease of the spine and often a less invasive prelude to possibly surgery as an option. Epidurals typically work best on patients with newer onset symptoms of sciatica or radiculopathy. It is an option, but never a "must do". I say this as an interventional pain specialist.

Answer 8

Only when you: are still in pain from sciatica due to a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or even facet arthropathy after completing a round of conservative care. This typically means you have tried medications, exercise, therapy and no help to your pain has been attained during that time.

Answer 9

Inflamed nerves: Epidural steroid injections reduce inflammation of nerve roots often caused by disk herniations in the spine. For the lumbar spine, they are more likely to work when pain radiates down one or both legs. They can give a week to a year of relief. Talk to your doctor about it as there is a lot more to discuss. Good luck.

Answer 10

Decrease swelling: The steroids in epidural injections are designed to decrease swelling and inflammation around nerve roots, and so decrease pain.

Answer 11

See below: To decrease swelling around inflamed nerve roots.

Answer 12

Back and neck pain: Epidural steroid injections are typically used to treat back pain, neck pain, and radiculopathy associated with bulging or herniated intravertebral cervical, thoracic, and lumbar discs as well as spinal stenosis, post-herpetic neuralgia, and failed back surgery syndrome.

Answer 13

Spinal Conditions: Many spinal conditions will respond to epidural steroid injection such as sciatica, degenerative disc disease, bulging, protruding, extruded discs which are disturbing spinal neural structures. The body has the inherent ability to cure itself given time. Steroids simply reduce inflammation around the neural structures, reduce pain, in order for time for you body to heal.

Answer 14

Epidural Pain Relief: Results in decreased Inflammation around the spinal nerve roots and Increased return to activity level as your body is healing from a herniated disk, spinal stenosis or even facet arthropathy.

What are the common risks of epidural steroid injections?

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers — it's anonymous and free!

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers — it's anonymous and free!

HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

Similar questions

When do you need epidural steroid injections?

What are epidural steroid injections used for?

Related questions

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

Found in:

People also asked

Related topics

Disclaimer:

Get the Free App for Members

Get the Free App for Doctors

Product

Company