I’ve heard that steroid injections are bad for you. When is it okay to have one for neck or back pain?

Single steroid injections can be very helpful both to diagnose and to treat problems. In the neck or back, the injection is made by passing a needle through the skin, ligaments, and soft tissues until reaching the epidural space.

The epidural space is right above and around the lining of the brain or spinal cord. Epidural steroid injections (ESI) are a common procedure. ESIs are used for nerve pain, shingles, and some types of headaches. They can also be used before disc surgery to diagnose the problem.