Efficacy of Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) demonstrate limited efficacy for managing cervical and lumbar radicular pain, as well as spinal stenosis. Studies indicate that while they may modestly reduce pain for some patients for up to three months, their effect diminishes over time. For pain relief, the number needed to treat (NNT) is four for short-term outcomes, meaning that only one in four patients experiences significant improvement, leaving the majority unaffected compared to control treatments. Additionally, for long-term disability reduction, the NNT rises to nine, suggesting most individuals do not gain substantial long-term benefits from ESIs.