Steroid Injections- time.

[Bunce]

Just wondering for those who have successful epidural steroid injections, how long did you wait to have this procedure from the onset of pain symptoms. Because I have read on Internet that steroid injections are more successful if you have it within the first 3 months? Thanks.

[Bananas5]

People who have steroin jags have them as part of ongoing treatment. This can be when other meds and alternative therapies had been unsuccessful.

Not sure what you were reading but sounds daft to me.

Waiting times can vary enormously from pain clinic to pain clinic. Depends how many other patients the anesthetist has to treat and what his work load is.

You can usually have them, if successful, about every 6 months. Only so many will be given.

You are best speaking with your pain consultant or pain nurse who will advise as to where you are in your treatment.

Pat x

[janetginty1960]

I have had steroid injections in my back on numerous times but only about once a year I'm afraid as clinic very busy and after the injections have to wait for appointment to see how they have effected me so each appointment six month apart.I have never had any relief from them i have degenerative erosion in my lower spine with discs now wafer thin.I have now got an appointment to see a spine specialist who I hope can come up with something,but afraid steroids didn't help me

[Hidden]

I'm with Paton on this, steroid jabs not always the best thing, you may get better in the first three months, which would make a steroid jab at that point ill advised, and you sound a way off from one. It isn't the sort of thing you want to rush into, they are still invasive,they do have side effect (albeit rare) and they don't always work. Believe me when I say that every other avenue will be explored first. Beware information on the internet, you do not need any qualifications to put something on it. I always look at it like this, stuff on the internet is information, not knowledge and it is not tailored to you, you do not know if it's researched or proven clinically and what's a bit more worrying, it may not be true. I have had quite a few jabs over the last 5 years and I was 12 months into my problems by then, they didn't help me much, having said that, my husband has had four now spread over 10 years with great succsess, he was 2 years into his back problems.

[onamission]

I have these injections mine last 6-8 weeks however they will only give 2 a year at our hospital