Tag: Epidural steroid injections

Affecting up to 40% of people in their lifetime, sciatica can cause debilitating nerve pain. For severe cases, conservative at-home care often isn't enough, prompting the question: **what do doctors prescribe for severe sciatica** to manage the intense discomfort?

According to Piedmont Healthcare, steroids may cause side effects, including frequent urination and increased thirst. This is typically a temporary, yet sometimes bothersome, effect that can occur after receiving an epidural steroid injection for pain management.

Most healthcare providers typically recommend no more than three or four steroid injections per year in a single joint due to potential risks. This cautious approach exists because concerns about the safety of **repeated steroid injections** are well-founded, especially regarding long-term joint and tissue health.

An estimated 9 million epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are performed annually in the United States [1.4.4]. A common patient concern is whether these shots cause weight gain, a side effect linked to the corticosteroid medication used [1.2.4].