According to studies, including one by a professor at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, steroid shots are now the most common way neck and back pain is treated in the United States.

However, problems such as paralysis and death are some of the complications being linked to the increased use of epidurals, which has prompted the Food and Drug Administration to review safety guidelines for the steroid injections.

Making things more complicated are the billions of dollars tied to the epidural industry. The pain market is estimated at $300 billion per year, and that growth reflects the rising in expenditures for pain treatments of all kinds.

Two events, including the aging population being prone to back and neck pain as well as high reimbursements for injections, are believed to be the reason behind the rise in treatments. Both Medicare and private health insurers offer profitable reimbursements to doctors administering epidural shots, which only take a few minutes to administer.

At the moment no drugs, including steroid injections, have a comprehensive system of record keeping that monitors complications or side effects. Even though manufacturers are required by the FDA to report harmful side effects as soon as they are known, there are no such obligations placed on healthcare professionals.

This year, the North American Spine Society issued a recommendation stating no more than four cervical epidural shots should be administered during a six-month period. However, they believe it wouldn't be appropriate to set an absolute limit because it may cause harsh restrictions on patients who are already receiving reasonable and necessary care.

Ultimately, it is possible that the serious complications relating to epidurals could lead to many medical malpractice lawsuits throughout the country. If you or someone you love has been left paralyzed or disabled following a steroid shot, talk to an experienced personal injury attorney in your area right away.

Source: Businessweek, "Epidurals Linked to Paralysis Seen With $300 Billion Pain Market," Jan. 4, 2012