The mechanism of action and side effects of epidural steroids

This paper assesses the multiple mechanisms of action of epidural steroids in the treatment of back pain on the mechanical, cellular, and molecular levels and reviews the systemic side effects of epidural steroid usage. A review of contemporary literature was performed using a computer-aided search of recently published articles within the last 10 years to find the most recent information on the mechanism of action of epidural steroids. The studies discussed in this paper focus on the theories underlying the various anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids, as well as their systemic involvement in side effects, including diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis.