Has anyone had a bad reaction to a spinal epidural?

Bless you. I wish this never happened, but so many people have had worse problems.

The article explains the risks associated with the drug but it does not state it is not FDA approved. I presume that all physicians performing this treatment would have reviewed the chances of side effects as required by hospitals when consenting patents for surgery. It is for this reason why I questioned your statement. It’s good information but not usually presented to patients in this detail before a surgical procedure.

@jenatsky Here is the information about steroid epidural injections and the risks from the FDA website.
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-fda-requires-label-changes-warn-rare-serious-neurologic-problems-after
I know this may bring more questions than answers and most patients may not know about this.
Are you considering and epidural injection? Have you discussed the risks with your doctor?

I also read cortisone injections in the spine for pain are not FDA approved . Does anyone have a date this was FDA approved. I understand it is common and is paid for by some insurances. But, What date was it FDA approved? A pain clinic suggested this for my pain, and seemed shocked when I asked if it was FDA approved. Like they didn't know? Also, my brother had this done at a radiologist clinic..... didn't help a bit. Ended up having surgery.

The only reaction I had was at another hospital when the let a student perform the procedure- he hit the sciatic with the injectii in on needle and I have never recovered.

I had a spinal epidural give by some bozo DR August of 2021. Woke up with a blazing headache, went home , was in crazy pain, tried to call Dr. She never called me back. She gave me Adhesive Arachnoiditis. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Its very painful, I can barely walk. My whole life has changed. Its been 7 months, am desperately looking for help. She doesn't even know she did this to me. She put the needle in the wrng place, gave me a wet tap and ruined my life.

Jennifer I'm concerned about your statement "and the steroids are not FDA approved for injections into the spine." when in fact cortisone is a common steroid injected into the spine for pain?

@meri91364 If you are in the US, you can contact your state's medical review board if you want to file a complaint. You also should be able to look to see if there has been any disciplinary action against the doctor. I am sorry you are going through this. The only reason I consented to having an epidural is because the surgeon wanted it for diagnostic purposes. He didn't get the results he expected, so he ignored it. The results were pointing to a condition called "funicular pain" which means that compression of the cervical spinal cord is causing some referred pain to other areas of the body. The surgeon (not at Mayo) missed that possibility, and refused to help me. There is no diagnostic test for this, and the only confirmation is that spinal decompression surgery stops the all over crazy pains, and indeed that is what happened when I had spine surgery at Mayo.