Are There Any Risks Or Complications Associated With Epidural Steroid Injections?
As with any procedure, there are always certain risks involved with epidural steroid injections. Potential complications may include: • Bleeding or infection at the injection site • Pain during or after injection • Post-injection headache • Reaction to injection medication • Nerve injury, including spinal cord injury and quadriplegia • Bladder dysfunction • Fluid retention • Respiratory arrest • Epidural hematoma (a collection of blood outside a blood vessel caused by a leak or injury) • Spinal cord infarction (occurs when one of the three major arteries that supply blood – and therefore oxygen – to the spinal cord is blocked) Complications are not a common occurrence; however, because they are potentially much more severe in the cervical spine than in the lumbar spine (low back), many physicians recommend oral steroids instead of cervical epidural spinal injections because of these risks. Additional risk factors to consider before having an epidural spinal injection include: • If you
