An epidural steroid injection places anti-inflammatory medicine near an irritated nerve root to ease sciatica. It can reduce leg pain for weeks to a few months. UK NICE guidelines suggest considering it for acute, severe sciatica. It does not repair the disc.
What to expect
- Done with X-ray or ultrasound guidance
- Takes minutes; you go home the same day
- Relief may start in days
Back or leg pain for more than 6 weeks? Get the free guide and a doctor review of your scan.
Limits and risks
- Relief is often temporary
- Usually limited to a few per year
- Rare risks include infection, bleeding and nerve injury
If epidurals stop helping, options include PRP, stem cells or surgery.
Epidural vs stem cell injection
| Epidural steroid | Stem cell injection | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Calms nerve inflammation | Calms inflammation and supports the disc's own repair |
| Typical relief | Weeks to a few months | Builds over months, lasting 12 months or more in clinical trials |
| Repeat? | Usually limited to a few a year | Often a single treatment plan |
| Best for | Short-term relief of severe leg pain | Lasting relief of disc pain without surgery |
Who an epidural suits
- Severe sciatica in the first weeks, to help you keep moving and doing rehab
- People waiting for other treatment
Back or leg pain for more than 6 weeks? Get the free guide and a doctor review of your scan.
What to expect
You lie face down, the skin is numbed, and a needle is guided by X-ray to the space around the nerve. It takes 10 to 20 minutes. Some people feel relief within days; for others it takes a week or two.
Side effects
Temporary flushing, raised blood sugar in people with diabetes, a headache in a small number, and rare infection or bleeding.
When an epidural is not enough
If relief fades, a stem cell injection targets the disc itself rather than only the nerve inflammation. A doctor can tell from your MRI which fits.
