Spinal steroid injection for lumbar herniated discs

I have had two steroid injections for lumbar stenosis pain. I don't have issues with panic but I was very concerned because I had never been through anything like this. I was worried about pain during the procedure, whether it would work, etc. I was very relieved because I was well prepared for the procedure and it was simple, quick, gentle, no real discomfort and I got relief from pain for about 4-6 months after each.....heaven. my husband had steroid injections for 3 months after the first and has been painfree for 2 years after the second. His was for sciatica. We are in our early seventies.

Thanks so much for sharing you and your husband's experience. It was great to hear it!
Continued good health!

I have just started having acute pain in my right buttocks and leg . I went to a doctor while out of town. She gave me a cortisone shot in my butt muscle. Did not help. Is that different from a steroid shot?

I had a herniated disc in 2020 and had a steroid injection and it did not help me at all. Doc recommended a second shot but I declined. Back has healed on its own. You are under anesthesia and do not feel the injection and I do not recall any pain after it.

Thank you for your perspective, quite helpful.

Yes, skibum, there is a difference.
First, prednisone is a steroid but an injection (an intramuscular injection) into your buttocks is not a spinal steroid injection.
The spinal steroid injection uses a steroid (most likely prednisone also along with a numbing agent) but the placement is into your back around the area of the herniated discs - not into your buttocks. A CT scan is required before doing a spinal injection so the physician knows exactly where to place this injection.
The spinal steroid injection is more targeted. But it also can not work or for those who are lucky it does.
Hope your sciatica pain (buttocks & leg) heals on its own. It's possible. Mine did.

I forgot to say I had nausea after for a few days, similar to what happens to me after a general anesthesia. Probably not typical. I was told I spoke during the procedure but had no memory of it. My only memory was walking into the room where the procedure was done and waking up back in the area I was before the procedure. It was done at an outpatient surgical center. Hope this helps you. Three docs recommended the shot, and I think it helps some people even though it did not help me. My herniated disc was pretty bad too, but it eventually got better, thought it took about 3 months I think. Part of the time I could not stand or walk and had major pain mostly in my left calf, but it was from the nerve the disc was touching.

Yes, I hear you. I will be put to sleep also but not with general anesthesia but the medication used in colonoscopies. I usually do not get nausea upon waking from such. At my worse I could barely stand or walk too. The pain in my back excruciating. Now a 24/7 dull, annoying pain. Sitting makes it worse, using only the heating pad for relief. I also started PT and hoping this helps. This pain came on suddenly, without any warning.
Hoping it will leave the same way. I know it can. Just hope that's the case with me.
Thanks again for your input. So glad you finally got relief. Yes, sometimes time does heal all things.

How did your sciatica heal?

I had it years ago - forget which leg - but I believe I had it for almost 9 months or so!
I remember being in work and walking on my toes due to the pain.
The only thing I did was first used the heating pad on my buttocks when I could....but then was told ice is better so I used ice packs even when in work. I was lucky with my co-workers, no one thought it was strange I was walking around with an ice pack tucked in my pants.
And, of course, there is always PT but I didn't even do that. And with the passage of time (a long time) it went away. Good luck to you.