What is the likelihood that patients will benefit from epidural steroid injections ?
Success rates from epidural steroid injections vary greatly among patients. Some trials report success rates ranging from 25-89%. Obviously, there is a great deal of variability among patients and spinal disorders. Best results are obtained in more acute cases but even patients with long-standing symptoms have received benefit from epidural steroid injections. Each patient must be evaluated on an individual basis. An initial, short-lasting beneficial response can be expected from the injection of a local anesthetic. The steroid response kicks-in after several days, but lasts much longer. The beneficial effect of a series of three consecutive injections may last as little as a few weeks, to many months. In many non-surgical cases a permanent degree of pain alleviation can be achieved with improvement in functional state. Treatment with Epidural Steroid Injections is occasionally used as a temporizing measure before surgery and does not preclude the possibility of subsequent surgery. Wha
