A boom in epidural shots is bringing to light some disturbing risks associated with the procedure, and lawsuits are appearing claiming the risks of the drugs are not accurately presented to patients.

Rollie Parish had just finished with a weekend of deer hunting in his home in Nederland, Texas, when he started experiencing neck and back pain. He went to the hospital near his home for a shot of steroids to ease the pain. Instead of relief, though, he experienced a stroke. Now he has to honk a horn to let his wife of 29 years know if he needs to eat or go to the bathroom.

The reports of severe and unexpected complications, including paralysis and death, have the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviewing the safety of steroid injections into the epidural space near the spinal cord.

Research studies have shown that steroid shots have become the most popular method for pain treatment used by U.S. physicians. One study found the number of these types of injections to Medicare patients increased 159 percent between 2000 and 2010.

There is a lot of money involved in steroid shots. For the typical shot, Medicare pays about $200 if given in a doctor’s office, about $400 if done at a surgery center, and about $600 if performed at a hospital.

Parish’s case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount, but the more injuries that happen, the more lawsuits there will be.

The Metier Law Firm, LLC – Denver accident lawyers