I am 79 years old and have many many steroid injections into my L3L4 & L5 over the past 20-30 years. My physician has always believed in giving them quite close together - maybe 3-4 weeks apart. First injection reduces the first layer of swelling and inflammation and the second one goes after what inflammation is left. I also believed in prevention and not waiting until the pain was very difficult and probably was being produced by heavy swelling and inflammation.

Having just one 6 months apart really does not do anything and I find many people give up on getting more because they say "it doesn't work".

My spinal doctor even sent me a medial journal article validating the standard of practice with doing injections close together. It takes about 7-14 days to see results as the swelling/inflammation is reduced. After the last injection eight weeks ago, I was given a sheet of paper to complete daily/hourly as to how I was feeling, pain levels and where the pain was located. It really helped me see the difference/day and progress I was making.