Spinal Corticosteroid Injection Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have an injection, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Headache
• Allergic reaction to the medicine
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Nerve damage
• Fainting

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Current infection
• Certain pre-existing medical conditions
• Treatment with blood thinners or certain other medicines
• General ill health

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, bleeding, or discharge from the injection site
• Shortness of breath or chest pain
• Numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness, especially in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
• Changes in urine or bowel function
• Sudden increase in weight of more than five pounds

In case of emergency, CALL 911.