No Spine injection procedure is without its risks and complications. These are very rare and occasionally there are reports of:
INFECTION: This is rare but there is an increased risk in skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema. The rate is less than 1 in 1000 Spine injections
BLEEDING: There is very little chance that you will bleed from a tiny puncture wound with a needle. But there is an increased risk of bleeding if you are taking medications to ‘thin your blood’ like warfarin, rivaroxaban or clopidogrel. You will be advised to stop these medications before a Spine steroid injection at least a week in advance of the procedure for safety.
ALLERGIC REACTION TO THE CONTRAST DYE: In rare instances, you may be allergic to the dye that is used to check the exact needle position. This happens in the range of 1 in 200 to 1 in 500 Spine steroid injections. People who are allergic to seafood are found to be more prone to this reaction. These include skin rash, itching and flushing of the face.
HEADACHE: This happens when there is a small leakage of the fluid present around your spinal cord after the Spine steroid injection procedure. This fluid usually leaks out and can cause headache while standing and walking for a few days. You will be advised to lie down flat for a few days until the headache settles.
FASCIAL FLUSHING: This is a temporary side effect from the Spine steroid injection and settles down very quickly.
VASOVAGAL OR FAINTING EPISODE: This can be due to the stress of the procedure and is not life threatening. 1 in 100 patients do have such episodes and it settles very quickly.