Side Effects

Epidural Injection Side Effects

Epidural injections, commonly used to relieve back or leg pain, can cause both mild side effects and rare but serious complications. Most side effects are temporary and self-limited, while serious risks are uncommon but important to consider[7].

  • Common side effects:
    • Mild pain at the injection site[8]
    • Temporary worsening of pain after the procedure[8]
    • Flushing of the face or chest (“steroid flush”)[7][8]
    • Itchy skin[6]
    • Sleeplessness (insomnia)[7][8]
    • Increased blood sugar (especially if you have diabetes)[8]
    • Anxiety[7]
    • Menstrual changes in some women[7]
    • Feeling sick (nausea), dizziness, or headache[1][3][6]
    • Low blood pressure or fainting[6][3]
    • Loss of bladder control or retention (especially in certain patients)[6][2]
  • Rare but serious complications:
    • Infection at the injection site, around the spinal cord, or systemically. Severe cases can involve abscess, meningitis, or osteomyelitis[1][3][5][7].
    • Bleeding around the injection site, potentially leading to a hematoma (blood clot) which can pressure the spinal cord[1][3][7].
    • Nerve damage, potentially causing numbness, loss of sensation, abnormal sensations, or in very rare cases, paralysis[1][3][5][7].
    • Dural puncture (“wet tap”) resulting in spinal headache due to a leak of cerebrospinal fluid[3][5].
    • Allergic reaction to the injected medicine or to antiseptics[7].
    • Convulsions, severe breathing difficulties, or very rarely, death have been reported, but these occur in less than one in tens of thousands of cases[5].

Most side effects of epidural injection are mild and temporary, with serious complications occurring extremely rarely when the procedure is performed correctly and appropriate precautions are taken[5][7].

References

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