An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a procedure intended to alleviate painful symptoms associated with nerve problems in the neck or back. During this procedure, your doctor will place a hollow needle between the vertebrae of your spine. Once the needle is placed, a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid medication will be delivered to the site of inflammation. Though rare, side effects caused by ESIs have been experienced by certain people.
Spinal Headache
During placement of the ESI needle between the vertebrae of your spinal column, it is possible that your doctor may accidentally pass the needle into the cerebrospinal fluid. This event is called a dural puncture and may cause a spinal headache, which is also called a post-dural puncture headache. The risk of such an occurrence is low: an estimated 0.05 percent of ESIs result in a dural puncture, as reported by The Spine Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. A dural puncture may cause a spinal headache to develop immediately after the ESI. However, a spinal headache may not develop until a couple of days following this procedure. Spinal headache symptoms typically resolve within a few days following the onset of symptoms. You should notify your doctor if you develop a spinal headache after receiving an ESI.
Infection
ESI needle placement may cause you to be more susceptible to infection. The injection site may become irritated or inflamed following this procedure, which can lead to infection in certain people. The Spine Center notes that approximately 1 to 2 percent of ESIs result in infections. Typically, any type of infection that develops as a side effect of an ESI is mild to moderate in nature.
Bleeding
If you have a bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia, you may be at increased risk of experiencing excessive bleeding following needle placement for an ESI. Bleeding may occur at the injection site and may cause you to be more susceptible to developing infection. Though quite rare, bleeding may also occur in individuals that do not have a bleeding disorder. If abnormal bleeding occurs following ESI, speak with your primary care physician immediately for further care.
Nerve Damage
Needle placement may cause nerve damage to occur in certain people following the ESI procedure. The spinal column contains a web of nerves that act to send and receive signals throughout the body. If the ESI needle damages these nerves, you may experience numbness, tingling, pain or mild muscle weakness. Typically, these symptoms resolve within several hours following the ESI procedure. In extremely rare instances, needle placement may cause a nerve to sever, which can result in paralysis. Paralysis is a medical condition characterized by the inability to move certain regions of the body, such as the feet, legs or arms. Speak with your doctor immediately if you experience any signs of nerve damage following ESI.
Fluid Retention
The corticosteroid medication delivered by the ESI may cause fluid retention to occur in certain people. This accumulation of excess water within the body may also lead to weight gain. Such symptoms typically resolve within a few days following the ESI procedure.
Elevated Blood Sugar Levels
If you have diabetes, the medication injected during the ESI procedure may cause an elevation in your blood sugar levels. Discuss any concerns you may have regarding your diabetes with your doctor prior to receiving an ESI.
