Epidural Steroid Injections Do Not Induce Weight Gain

Objective: Neuraxial administration of steroids have been used in clinical practice for more than 50 years and have a well defined place in the treatment of radicular low back pain. However, steroids have widespread effects on almost all body systems, such as suppression of the pituitary-adrenal axis with consecutive weight gain and osteoporosis. Methods: We prospectively evaluated the effect of three consecutive epidural steroid injections with 40 mg. methylprednisolone acetate once monthly for 3 months on weight gain. The study population included 108 patients, who attended the pain clinic for chronic low back pain. Completed data were available for 100 patients. Results: We found no significant change in weight after administration of a series of three-epidural steroid injections. Discussion: It appears that neuraxial steroids administration doesn't induce weight gain.