Comparing Treatment Options
Risk Comparison
Risks of Each Treatment
| Treatment | Common risks | Serious risks |
|---|---|---|
| Medication | Stomach/GI problems, drowsiness, dizziness | Kidney damage (long-term NSAIDs) |
| Nerve block injections | Temporary numbness, discomfort | Infection, bleeding (rare) |
| Decompression surgery | Infection, bleeding, temporary symptom worsening | Nerve damage (rare) |
| Fusion surgery | Above + adjacent segment disease | Implant-related complications |
| SCS | Infection, lead migration | Device-related complications |
How to Think About These Risks
Reported complication rates vary widely between studies, and your individual risk depends on your condition, the extent of the procedure, and the facility. For that reason, this site does not list one-size-fits-all figures. As general tendencies:
- The larger the operation, the higher the risk of complications such as infection and blood clots
- Fusion surgery carries the long-term concern of adjacent segment disease — new strain on the levels next to the fused segment
- SCS is comparatively low-burden on the body, but lead migration and re-interventions for adjustment are relatively more common
For your specific risk, we recommend asking your doctor: "At this facility, how often do complications occur with this treatment?"