| Most guidelines and insurers consider up to 3 to 4 epidural steroid injections in a 12-month period reasonable, provided each one produces meaningful relief. There’s no benefit to repeating an injection that didn’t help — that’s a signal to re-examine the diagnosis rather than inject again. |
Medically reviewed by Mahmudul Patwary, MD — Interventional Pain Management, Grewal Orthopedic & Spine Care. Reviewed July 2026.
Why there’s a limit
Repeated steroid exposure carries cumulative risks, so injections are spaced and capped, and used to enable rehab rather than as a standalone long-term therapy.
When to change course
If you’re on your third injection in a year with fading results, we review whether a different treatment — ablation, Intracept, or surgery — fits better.
Sources: ASIPP guidelines; NASS coverage recommendations.
