@jenatsky I disagree that epidural steroid injections are considered experimental in the US and around the world. They are technically an off-label use of steroids because the FDA has not approved them for epidural injections but still they are widely used, help many people and are covered by most major health insurance companies.

Just to be sure, I Googled whether they are experimental. Below is the response:

No, lumbar steroid injections are not considered experimental in the United States or around the world. They are among the most widely utilized and standard medical procedures for managing chronic lower back and radicular pain (such as sciatica). However, there is a common point of confusion regarding their official regulatory status and insurance guidelines:The "Off-Label" Status in the U.S.In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not explicitly approved corticosteroids for epidural injection, and requires a warning on the drug labels regarding potential rare, severe neurological risks. Because of this, administering a lumbar epidural steroid injection (ESI) is technically an "off-label" use of the medication. Off-label prescribing is a legal, extremely common, and standard practice in medicine. It simply means a drug is being used for a purpose or via a route of administration not explicitly listed on its original FDA approval label. It does not mean the procedure is experimental or unproven. Insurance and Medical NecessityMajor U.S. health insurance providers, including Medicare and private carriers like UnitedHealthcare, routinely cover lumbar steroid injections. Insurance companies do not cover experimental treatments; they cover ESIs because they are recognized as standard care, provided specific clinical criteria are met: Documented Diagnosis: The patient must have a clear condition causing nerve root compression or inflammation, such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. Conservative Care Trial: The patient must typically fail to find relief from at least 4 weeks of conservative treatments, such as physical therapy or oral anti-inflammatories. Image Guidance: The procedure must be performed using fluoroscopy (X-ray) or CT guidance to ensure precise delivery and safety. Note: While the injections themselves are standard, certain techniques—such as performing them under ultrasound guidance rather than standard X-ray—may still be classified as investigational or experimental by some insurers. International StatusGlobally, lumbar steroid injections are accepted as a standard, frontline interventional pain management tool. Major international guidelines—including those in Europe, Canada, and Australia—support their use for short-to-medium-term relief of radicular leg and back pain, allowing patients a window of relief to participate in physical therapy and potentially delay or avoid spinal surgery. While their placement in standard care pathways is universally recognized, medical societies worldwide continue to debate their long-term efficacy compared to conservative care alone, keeping their recommended use tightly focused on targeted, short-term pain management rather than a permanent cure.