Are steroid injections a common treatment for herniated discs?

Steroid injections are a common treatment for herniated discs, according to Spine-Health. They are used for pain relief and not to correct the herniated disc. However, if the patient is free of pain, he is more likely to want to continue with physical therapy that eventually resolves the herniated disc.

Steroid injections are used for herniated discs in the cervical spine in the neck area, thoracic spine in the middle of the back, and for the lumber spine in the lower back, says Spine-Health. Relief experienced by epidural steroid injections can last as long as a year. The steroid is injected directly into the epidural space in the patient's spine, sometimes with saline solution or local anesthesia.