What are potential risks and side effects of an epidural steroid injection?
As with all invasive medical procedures, there are potential risks associated with lumbar epidural steroid injections. Generally, however, there are few risks associated with epidural steroid injections and they tend to be rare. Risks may include: Infection Minor infections occur in 1% to 2% of all injections. Bleeding Bleeding is a rare complication and is more common for patients with underlying bleeding disorders or in patients on asprin, antiplatelet drugs. Nerve damage While extremely rare, nerve damage can occur from direct trauma from the needle, or secondarily from infection or bleeding. Paralysis is not a risk since there is no spinal cord in the region of the epidural steroid injection. Dural puncture A dural puncture occurs in 0.5% of injections. It may cause a spinal headache (post-dural puncture headache) that usually gets better within a few days. Side effects from the steroid medication A transient elevation of blood sugars (especially in diabetics), gastritis may be enc
