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Tracy Hampton, PhD

JAMA. 2007;297:1757-1758.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Although giving epidural corticosteroid injections to treat back pain with sciatica has been an increasingly common practice over the past 50 years, the American Academy of Neurology said that a review of the literature indicates that the procedure may have little or no benefit outside of a 2- to 6-week window following treatment (Armon C et al. Neurology. 2007;68:723-729).

Additional studies are needed, but based on the available evidence, the academy has stated that epidural steroid injections for improving function, avoiding surgery, or providing long-term pain relief for patients with radiating back pain are not recommended.

DEARTH OF STUDIES

Chronic back pain can be debilitating and expensive. In 1998, for example, patients with back pain in the United States incurred total health care expenditures of $90.7 billion (Luo X et al. Spine. 2004;29:79-86). Such costs are generated from inpatient care, office-based visits, prescription drugs, outpatient services, and emergency . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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