Any experiences with Cortisone shot success for Herniated Disc/Sciatica

Stop using ice.

Start sleeping better. Go to bed a the same time every night. Wake up at the same time every morning. Reduce screen time before bed. Reduce caffeine intake in the pm hours. Reduce inflammatory foods and added sugars

Increase exercises and work on the muscles in and around your back

It's a band aid. It can help reduce pain but don't waste away the window of freedom that it gives you. If it allows you to pursue more aggressive forms of physical therapy then it may help. If it allows you to sleep better then that's a benefit as well. But the shot itself isn't going to magically fix you and the pain relief it provides wont last forever. You gotta find the underlying cause of the disc issue and treat it.

BTW core training and the McGill big 3 are basically the default treatment plan for any run of the mill PT. That doesn't work for everyone and most PTs don't know how to pivot if that isn't working. Strengthening your erector spinae is equally important to the "core." For me personally, my problem was a tight hip flexor on the right side combined with a sleepy glute on my left side that was keeping my pelvis in this very slightly twisted position and putting pressure on the discs in my low back

You're in luck, I got one at C5/C6 two weeks ago. It's going on three months I've had the issue (delays in getting MRI read, etc.) Get the shot.

My ortho had me on 2400mg a day of ibuprofen. They made me stop before the shot. That six days sucked, and sucked bad. I was advised to do nothing but stretching in the gym (lol.) My trap has been guarding for so long, I think the trap is putting pressure on the nerve.

Oddly enough, the doc said it should take 5-6 days for the shot to take effect. However, after the shot was administered, I took a 800mg of ibuprofen as soon as I realized the sedative had worn off. Within two hours pain subsided.

Both of my doctors (pain management and ortho) didn't do a good job of telling me what I shouldn't do while I drive, etc., with my left arm, but ChatGPT did. Here's ChatGPT's feedback for you:

quote:

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Things that usually aggravate L4–L5:

Prolonged sitting
Slouched posture
Repeated flexion
Twisting under load
Sneezing/coughing
Long car rides

Sound familiar? Same pressure story, different floor of the building.

Things that often help:
Walking
Gentle extension (if tolerated)
Neutral spine positioning
Short frequent movement breaks
If standing or walking reduces symptoms compared to sitting, that’s common disc behavior.

About Cortisone (Epidural Steroid Injection)

What it does:

Reduces inflammatory mediators
Decreases nerve root swelling
Can break pain cycle

What it doesn’t do:
Reverse structural disc bulge
Guarantee resolution
Some people improve without it.
Some need it to function while healing.

It’s a tool, not a verdict.

What I’d Tell Him Practically

Avoid repeated lumbar flexion under load.
Avoid prolonged sitting.
Move frequently.
Walk daily unless it worsens symptoms.
Don’t aggressively stretch hamstrings if that increases nerve pain.
Monitor strength honestly.

And this is important:
If pain centralizes (moves from leg back toward lower back), that’s usually a good sign.
If it peripheralizes (moves farther down the leg), that’s usually not great.

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