[hanshan]

Whether or not the ESI (epidural steroid injection) is worth it is one of the most controversial questions going on in the field of pain management. One of the members on our board is a physician and pointed out that the alcohol in ESI's is toxic to the nerves in our back, leading to a causal link between ESI's and arachnoiditis (a condition as scary as it sounds). Many people who are passionate about regenerative medicine are hard on ESI's because the amount of steroids used in these shots is toxic to the human body and has the potential to make things worse (Regenexx just blogged about this, I recommend you read those blog posts but keep in mind that Regenexx has an interest in painting everything that is not regenerative medicine in a negative light). Many people get relief, but it is only temporary. The more shots you have, the more likely it is you might have a complication. So it just comes down to the patient's risk analysis.