What are the side effects and risks associated with epidural injections?
Most patients will experience some injection site tenderness for 1 – 3 days following the injection. This can be remedied with an ice pack on the injection site immediately following the procedure, and heat if the pain persists after 24 hours. Headaches may occur if the needle enters the spinal fluid. This occurs much more commonly when procedures are performed without x-ray guidance. Infection, bleeding, and nerve injury are very rare reported side effects. The use of sterile technique and x-ray guidance further reduce the chances of these problems occurring. Do the injections hurt? There can be some local discomfort with the needle placement. Local anesthetic is used to numb the area. Sedation can be used to relax the patient. How long does it take for the injections to work? It usually takes 1 to 3 days for the corticosteroids to have their effect. However, some patients take up to seven days to notice the full effect. Most patients experience some relief after the first injection.
