QUICK ANSWER
Yes, you can get a cortisone shot in your back. For back pain, the injection is almost always an epidural steroid injection (ESI): a corticosteroid — usually mixed with a local anaesthetic — is injected into the epidural space around the spinal cord and nerve roots, most commonly in the lower back (lumbar epidural) or the neck (cervical epidural). It is one of the most common non-surgical treatments for back pain in the United States, with more than 9 million cortisone injections of all kinds performed every year. The shot reduces inflammation around irritated nerves, which is why it helps conditions like a herniated disc, spinal stenosis and sciatica — but it treats the inflammation, not the underlying problem. Relief typically starts within 2 to 7 days, lasts anywhere from a few weeks to several months, and most doctors limit you to 3 or 4 injections per year in the same area. This guide explains the types, the exact procedure, the costs, the risks, who should avoid it, and the alternatives that work when a shot does not.
What Is a Cortisone Shot in the Back?
A cortisone shot is an injection of a corticosteroid medicine — a powerful anti-inflammatory drug — directly into or near the painful area. Cortisone itself is a synthetic version of cortisol, the hormone your adrenal glands make to control inflammation. When injected in a concentrated dose at the source of the pain, it calms the immune response that causes swelling, pressure and nerve irritation.
That distinction matters, because it explains both the power and the limits of the treatment. A cortisone shot in your back does not repair a herniated disc, un-pinch a nerve, or reverse arthritis. What it does is shrink the inflammation around the nerve root so the nerve stops sending pain signals — and so the area gets a window of lower pain in which physical therapy and movement can actually work. Doctors describe it as a bridge treatment: it buys time and comfort while the body heals or while a longer-term plan takes effect.
There are two different things people usually mean when they ask “can you get a cortisone shot in your back,” and the difference changes everything about the procedure:
- An epidural steroid injection (ESI) — the shot goes into the epidural space, the fat-filled area just outside the protective membrane (dura) around the spinal cord. This is the standard cortisone shot for back pain, and it is what most of this article covers.
- A facet joint or trigger-point injection — the shot goes into the small facet joints between the vertebrae, or into a painful muscle knot. These target a different pain source and use a different technique, and they are covered in their own section below.
If your doctor says “cortisone shot for your back,” they almost certainly mean an epidural steroid injection. If they say “facet injection” or “trigger point injection,” the medicine is similar but the target is different.
Which Back Problems Can a Cortisone Shot Treat?
A cortisone shot in your back is not a general painkiller. It works when the pain is caused by inflammation pressing on or irritating a nerve. The conditions below are the ones doctors most commonly treat with an epidural steroid injection — and the ones where the evidence is strongest.
| Condition | What is happening | Why a cortisone shot helps |
|---|---|---|
| Herniated (slipped) disc | The soft centre of a spinal disc bulges out and presses on a nerve root | Steroid reduces swelling around the compressed nerve, easing leg and back pain |
| Sciatica / lumbar radiculopathy | Pain radiating from the lower back down the buttock and leg | Inflammation around the lumbar nerve root is the main pain driver |
| Spinal stenosis | The spinal canal narrows with age, squeezing nerves | Steroid calms the chronically irritated nerve roots in the narrowed space |
| Degenerative disc disease | Worn discs cause chronic low back pain | Reduces inflammation in the disc and surrounding tissues |
| Cervical radiculopathy | A pinched nerve in the neck sends pain into the shoulder and arm | Cervical epidural delivers steroid to the irritated neck nerve root |
| Post-surgical (failed back surgery) pain | Scar tissue or residual inflammation after spine surgery | Targets persistent nerve inflammation that surgery did not resolve |
| Spondylolisthesis | One vertebra slips forward over the one below it | Eases the nerve-root inflammation caused by the slippage |
What a cortisone shot does not treat well is just as important to know. It is a poor choice for purely mechanical back pain — the stiff, aching pain from a muscle strain, poor posture or a minor lifting injury — because there is no inflamed nerve to calm. It does not help a fracture, an infection, a tumour, or pain caused by instability that needs surgical stabilisation. And it does nothing for the general, diffuse ache that comes with deconditioning or weak core muscles. If your pain is mostly in the muscles and gets better with rest and heat, a shot is probably not the right tool — and a good doctor will tell you that before booking the procedure.
The Types of Cortisone Shot for Your Back
Not all back injections are the same. The type your doctor chooses depends on where the pain comes from and how many nerve roots are involved. Knowing the names helps you understand exactly what you are consenting to.
Interlaminar epidural steroid injection
The needle enters between two adjacent laminae — the bony plates at the back of the vertebrae — and the medicine spreads across the epidural space. This is the oldest and most common technique. It is the best choice when several nerve roots are inflamed at once, or when the pain is spread across a wide area rather than pinpointed to one nerve. The trade-off is precision: the medicine spreads broadly, so less of it reaches any single nerve root.
Transforaminal epidural steroid injection
The needle goes through the neural foramen, the small opening where a single nerve root exits the spine, and delivers the steroid directly onto that one nerve. This is the most targeted option, and it is the one doctors choose when imaging shows exactly which nerve is compressed — for example, a herniated disc pressing on the L5 nerve root. It is also the technique most often used diagnostically: if the pain disappears after a transforaminal injection, the doctor has confirmed which nerve is the culprit.
Caudal epidural steroid injection
The needle enters at the very base of the spine, through the sacral hiatus, and the medicine spreads upward through the lower spinal region. This approach is used when the pain is generalised across the lower back and legs, or when scar tissue from previous surgery makes the higher entry points difficult. It is also the technique most often used for patients who have had previous spinal surgery.
Facet joint injection
The facet joints are the small joints that connect one vertebra to the next and guide the spine’s movement. When these joints become arthritic, they cause a deep, aching back pain that is worse when you twist or lean backward. A facet joint injection puts a small amount of steroid — sometimes with anaesthetic — directly into the joint. Unlike an epidural, it does not treat nerve pain, so it is used for a different kind of back pain entirely.
Trigger point injection
If the pain comes from a tight, knotted band of muscle rather than a nerve or a joint, the doctor may inject steroid (or sometimes just anaesthetic) directly into the trigger point — the knot itself. These injections are quick, done in a clinic room rather than a procedure suite, and they are often used alongside physical therapy for muscle-related back pain.
| Injection type | Target | Best for | How precise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interlaminar epidural | Epidural space, broad spread | Multiple nerve roots, wide-area pain | Broad |
| Transforaminal epidural | One specific nerve root | Single herniated disc, pinpointed nerve pain | Very targeted |
| Caudal epidural | Lower spine, upward spread | Generalised low back/leg pain, post-surgical scarring | Broad, lower spine |
| Facet joint | Facet joint between vertebrae | Arthritic facet joint pain, pain on twisting | Joint-specific |
| Trigger point | Muscle knot | Myofascial muscle pain | Muscle-specific |
How the Procedure Works, Step by Step
One of the most common worries people have is the unknown: what actually happens in the room. A lumbar epidural steroid injection is an outpatient procedure that typically takes 15 to 30 minutes, and you go home the same day. Here is the full sequence, in order.
1. Before the appointment. You will be asked to stop blood-thinning medicines (aspirin, ibuprofen, warfarin and similar) for several days before the procedure, because they increase the risk of bleeding around the spine. Tell the doctor about every medicine and supplement you take, including fish oil and herbal products. You should also arrange for someone to drive you home — you will not be allowed to drive yourself after sedation. Eat a light meal unless you are told otherwise, and bring a list of allergies, especially to contrast dye, steroids or local anaesthetics.
2. Arrival and preparation. You change into a gown and lie face down on a procedure table. A nurse monitors your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen. The skin over the injection site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a local anaesthetic numbs the skin so the needle entry itself hurts less.
3. Fluoroscopy guidance. This is the step that separates a proper epidural injection from a blind one. The doctor uses live X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) to watch the needle move in real time and confirm it is in exactly the right place. Most doctors also inject a small amount of contrast dye first: if the dye spreads in the expected pattern, the needle position is confirmed before any steroid goes in. Studies and professional guidelines consistently recommend image guidance, and you should be cautious of any provider who offers an epidural without it.
4. The injection itself. Once the position is confirmed, the doctor injects the medicine — a corticosteroid (commonly triamcinolone, methylprednisolone or dexamethasone) mixed with a local anaesthetic such as lidocaine or bupivacaine. The anaesthetic gives fast, short-lived numbness; the steroid is the slow-acting part that reduces inflammation over the following days. The whole injection takes a couple of minutes. Most people describe pressure rather than sharp pain, though a brief reproduction of their usual leg or back pain as the needle approaches the nerve is common — and, oddly, reassuring, because it confirms the needle is at the right nerve.
5. Recovery and going home. You rest on a monitor for 15 to 30 minutes. Your legs may feel heavy or numb for a few hours because of the anaesthetic — this is normal and it wears off. Your driver takes you home. Most people are told to rest for the rest of the day, avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for 24 to 48 hours, and then return to normal activity as tolerated.
Does a Cortisone Shot in the Back Hurt?
Honestly: it is uncomfortable, but most people describe it as much less painful than they feared. The parts that hurt are the numbing injection (a brief sting, like a dental injection) and the pressure as the needle is positioned. The steroid injection itself is usually felt as a feeling of fullness or pressure in the back, sometimes with a brief flash of the familiar leg pain.
Whether you get sedation depends on the clinic. Some doctors offer light sedation (a medicine that makes you drowsy and relaxed but not fully asleep) as standard; others do the procedure with local anaesthetic only. There is a genuine debate here: fully awake patients can report pain, which helps the doctor know when the needle touches a nerve, while sedated patients are more comfortable. If you are anxious about the procedure, ask in advance what sedation is available — do not assume, and do not arrive expecting one option and find the other.
The most common post-procedure experience is a pain flare: the back or leg pain gets temporarily worse for 24 to 48 hours after the shot, before it gets better. This happens to a significant minority of patients, it is caused by the injection irritating the already-sensitive nerve, and it settles on its own. Ice, rest and your usual pain relief are the standard advice. It is not a sign the injection has failed.
How Long Does a Cortisone Shot in the Back Last?
This is the question every patient asks, and the honest answer is: it varies a lot, and no doctor can promise you a number. The evidence and the clinical experience point to these ranges:
| Outcome | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Anaesthetic effect | Numbness within minutes, wears off in a few hours |
| Steroid starts working | 2 to 7 days after the injection |
| Peak relief | Around 2 weeks |
| Typical duration of relief | A few weeks to 3 months |
| Good responders | 3 to 6 months, occasionally longer |
| No response | Around 1 in 4 to 1 in 3 people get little or no benefit |
The steroid does not work instantly — anyone who promises relief in the first 24 hours is describing the anaesthetic, not the steroid. If you feel nothing at all after two weeks, the injection has probably not worked for you, and the next step is a conversation about what else might be causing the pain, not simply repeating the same shot.
Several factors decide how long relief lasts. The underlying cause matters most: a fresh herniated disc with acute inflammation often responds better than long-standing spinal stenosis. Your age, how long you have had the pain, whether you also do physical therapy during the pain-free window, and your general health all play a part. The patients who get the longest benefit are usually the ones who use the low-pain window to strengthen their core, improve their movement patterns and lose excess weight — the shot opens the window, but it does not do the work inside it.
How Many Cortisone Shots Can You Get in a Year?
The widely used limit is 3 to 4 epidural steroid injections per year in the same area, with at least several weeks between them. That number is not arbitrary. Corticosteroids, given repeatedly, carry cumulative risks: they can weaken nearby bone and cartilage, raise blood sugar, suppress the adrenal glands, thin the skin, and — with repeated spinal injections — potentially contribute to bone loss in the vertebrae.
The limit applies per area, not per person in total: a lumbar injection and a cervical injection are different areas. But the limit is a ceiling, not a target. If the first injection gives you no relief at all, most doctors will not simply repeat it and hope — a non-response is information, and the right move is usually to re-examine the diagnosis. If the first injection helps but the relief fades after six weeks, a second injection is reasonable. Three injections a year that each help for a month is a very different situation from three injections that help for a week.
There is no lifetime maximum written in stone, but doctors become more cautious with each passing year of repeated injections, and they will usually push harder for a definitive solution — surgery, a different procedure, or a structured rehabilitation programme — if you find yourself needing injections every few months indefinitely.
Risks and Side Effects of a Cortisone Shot in the Back
Epidural steroid injections are generally considered safe, and serious complications are rare. But “rare” is not “impossible,” and the risks are worth knowing before you consent — especially the common, minor ones that nobody warns you about and the rare, serious ones that a good consent conversation should cover.
Common side effects (affect a noticeable minority)
- Pain flare — the injected area hurts more for 1 to 2 days, then settles.
- Facial flushing — a warm, red face for a day or two after the injection.
- Trouble sleeping — steroids can cause insomnia for a night or two.
- Raised blood sugar — blood glucose rises for several days, which matters a great deal if you have diabetes.
- Fluid retention and mild weight gain — temporary, and usually small.
- Headache — usually mild and short-lived.
- Soreness and bruising at the injection site.
Rare but serious risks
- Dural puncture and spinal headache — if the needle pierces the dura, spinal fluid leaks and causes a severe headache that is worse when standing. It is treated with rest, fluids and, if needed, a blood patch.
- Infection — epidural abscess or meningitis. Very rare, but this is the complication doctors take most seriously, which is why sterile technique and image guidance matter.
- Bleeding — an epidural haematoma can compress nerves. This is the reason blood thinners are stopped beforehand.
- Nerve damage — direct needle injury to a nerve root is possible but uncommon with fluoroscopic guidance.
- Allergic reaction — to the steroid, the anaesthetic or the contrast dye.
Call your doctor urgently if, after the injection, you notice:
- A severe headache that is much worse when you stand up
- Fever, or increasing redness, swelling or warmth at the injection site
- New weakness in a leg, or loss of bladder or bowel control
- Pain that is rapidly getting worse rather than better after 48 hours
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as a rash, swelling of the face or difficulty breathing
These are uncommon, but they are the reasons you are given a contact number after the procedure. Use it.
Who Should Not Get a Cortisone Shot in the Back?
Some people should not have an epidural steroid injection at all, and others should have it only after a careful discussion. The main situations are:
| Situation | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Active infection (skin infection at the injection site, or a body-wide infection) | Do not inject — wait until the infection is treated |
| Uncontrolled diabetes | Steroids raise blood sugar for days; discuss the trade-off with your doctor |
| Allergy to steroids, anaesthetics or contrast dye | Tell the doctor; alternatives or pre-treatment may be possible |
| Bleeding disorder or blood-thinning medicine that cannot be paused | Higher risk of epidural bleeding; needs a specialist decision |
| Pregnancy | Usually avoided, particularly in the first trimester; discuss alternatives |
| Uncontrolled high blood pressure | Steroids can raise blood pressure further |
| Previous poor response to the same injection | Repeating a shot that did nothing is rarely useful |
| Severe spinal instability or a large disc fragment needing surgery | An injection delays the treatment that is actually needed |
If you have diabetes, the blood-sugar rise deserves a specific warning: a single epidural steroid injection can raise blood glucose for 2 to 5 days, sometimes substantially, and people on insulin often need to adjust their dose and monitor more closely for a few days afterwards. Tell your diabetes team before the injection, not after.
How Much Does a Cortisone Shot in the Back Cost?
Cost varies widely by country, setting and insurance, and the same procedure can cost several times more in a hospital outpatient department than in an independent clinic. The figures below are typical US ranges for 2026; always confirm the price with the provider before booking, and ask whether the figure includes the facility fee, the doctor’s fee and the imaging.
| Setting | Typical US cost (without insurance) |
|---|---|
| Independent pain clinic / doctor’s office | $600 – $1,500 per injection |
| Ambulatory surgery centre | $1,000 – $2,500 per injection |
| Hospital outpatient department | $1,500 – $3,500+ per injection |
| With insurance (patient’s share) | Commonly $50 – $500 as a copay or coinsurance, after the deductible |
| Medicare (US) | Usually covers epidural steroid injections when medically necessary; patient share varies |
The single biggest cost driver is the facility fee, not the doctor. That is why the same injection, done by the same doctor, can cost twice as much in a hospital as in an office — the hospital charges a facility fee on top. If you are paying out of pocket, ask the clinic for the total “all-in” price (physician fee + facility fee + imaging), and ask whether the price changes if you have more than one level injected in the same session. Some clinics charge per level, so a two-level injection can cost significantly more than a one-level injection.
In the UK, epidural steroid injections are available on the NHS when a specialist refers you, but waiting times can be long, and private clinics typically charge £400–£900 per injection. In other countries the price depends heavily on whether the procedure is done in a public or private setting.
What Happens If the Shot Does Not Work?
Between a quarter and a third of people get little or no relief from an epidural steroid injection. That does not mean nothing can be done — it means the diagnosis, the target or the treatment needs rethinking. The usual next steps, roughly in order, are:
- Re-examine the diagnosis. The most common reason a shot fails is that the pain was never coming from the nerve the doctor targeted. A repeat MRI, a diagnostic nerve block, or a second opinion can find the real source.
- Try a different injection. A transforaminal injection aimed at a single nerve root may succeed where a broad interlaminar injection failed, or a facet joint injection may be right if the pain is coming from the joints rather than a nerve.
- Structured physical therapy. Targeted exercise, core strengthening and movement retraining are the treatments with the strongest long-term evidence for back pain — and they work better once an injection has reduced the pain enough to move.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA). For facet joint pain, a needle heats and disables the small nerves carrying pain from the joint. Relief commonly lasts 6 to 12 months.
- Spinal cord stimulation. For persistent nerve pain after surgery or when nothing else helps, a small implanted device sends mild electrical pulses to the spinal cord.
- Surgery. When there is a clear structural cause — a large herniated disc pressing on a nerve, severe stenosis, or instability — and conservative treatments have failed, surgery becomes the definitive option. An injection that does not work is useful information for a surgeon, not a wasted step.
Alternatives to a Cortisone Shot for Back Pain
A cortisone shot is one tool among many, and for some people a different tool works better, costs less, or carries fewer risks. The comparison below is a fair summary of the main options — not a ranking, because the right choice depends on what is causing your pain.
| Treatment | How it works | Best for | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical therapy | Targeted exercise, stretching, manual therapy | Most back pain, especially long-term | Needs weeks of commitment; no instant relief |
| NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) | Reduce inflammation throughout the body | Mild to moderate inflammatory pain | Stomach, kidney and heart risks with long-term use |
| Heat and ice | Heat relaxes muscles; ice reduces inflammation | Muscle spasm, acute flare-ups | Temporary relief only |
| Chiropractic / spinal manipulation | Hands-on adjustment of the spine | Some mechanical low back pain | Not suitable for everyone; evidence is mixed |
| Acupuncture | Fine needles stimulate nerves and muscles | Chronic low back pain for some people | Evidence is modest; effects vary |
| Radiofrequency ablation | Heat disables pain-carrying nerves | Facet joint pain confirmed by diagnostic block | Relief is temporary (6–12 months) |
| Epidural steroid injection | Steroid reduces nerve inflammation | Nerve-root pain from disc or stenosis | Temporary; limited to 3–4 per year |
| Surgery (microdiscectomy, laminectomy) | Removes the structure pressing on the nerve | Severe, persistent nerve compression | Invasive; recovery time; surgical risks |
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and several clinical guidelines recommend trying targeted exercise, physical therapy or chiropractic care before relying on injections for lower back pain — and that is a sensible order for most people. An injection is most valuable when pain is so severe that it stops you from doing the exercise that would actually fix the problem.
What to Do After a Cortisone Shot in Your Back
The 48 hours after the injection matter more than most people realise. The shot has opened a window of lower pain; what you do inside that window decides whether the benefit lasts.
- Rest for the remainder of the day. No heavy lifting, no strenuous exercise, no long drives. A short walk is fine and usually encouraged.
- Ice the injection site for 15 to 20 minutes at a time if it is sore.
- Avoid baths, hot tubs and swimming for 24 to 48 hours to reduce the infection risk at the needle site. Showers are fine.
- Do not drive until the numbness has fully worn off and you feel normal — usually the next day.
- Resume normal activity gradually over 24 to 48 hours, and restart physical therapy as your doctor advises — this is the point of the injection.
- Keep a simple pain diary for two weeks: a daily 0–10 score, what you could do, and whether leg pain or back pain changed. This record is what your doctor uses to judge whether the injection worked and whether to repeat it.
- Check your blood sugar more often if you have diabetes, for at least 3 to 5 days.
Most clinics schedule a follow-up at two to four weeks. Bring your pain diary. If the pain is gone, the follow-up may be a short phone call. If it is unchanged, the follow-up is where the next step is decided — and having the diary makes that decision much better informed.
Can You Get a Cortisone Shot in Your Back More Than Once?
Yes — and many people do. A single injection is often the first step, and the common pattern is one injection, a reassessment at two to four weeks, and then a second injection if the first helped but the relief faded. The practical rules are:
- Wait at least 2 to 4 weeks between injections in the same area, so the steroid from the first has had time to work and the doctor can judge the result cleanly.
- Do not exceed 3 to 4 injections per year in the same area.
- Do not keep repeating an injection that gives no relief. After two injections with no benefit, the diagnosis or the target is probably wrong.
- Space injections across the year rather than clustering them, to limit cumulative steroid exposure.
The Bottom Line
Yes, you can get a cortisone shot in your back — for most people with nerve-related back pain, it is an epidural steroid injection, done as an outpatient procedure with X-ray guidance in about 15 to 30 minutes. It reduces inflammation around irritated nerve roots, which is why it helps herniated discs, sciatica and spinal stenosis, and why it does little for purely muscular back pain. Relief usually begins within a week, peaks around two weeks, and lasts from a few weeks to a few months; most doctors cap the treatment at 3 or 4 injections a year in the same area. The risks are mostly minor and short-lived — a pain flare, flushing, raised blood sugar — with serious complications being rare. The shot is best understood as a bridge: it quiets the pain so that physical therapy, movement and the body’s own healing can do the lasting work. If your back pain radiates down your leg, has not improved with rest and exercise, and imaging shows a nerve being irritated, ask your doctor whether an epidural steroid injection is right for you — and go in knowing the types, the costs, the limits and the alternatives, so the decision is yours.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Corticosteroid injections carry risks, and whether one is right for you depends on your medical history, your diagnosis and your other medicines. Always discuss the decision with a qualified doctor, and seek urgent care if you develop severe headache, fever, new weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control after an injection.
FAQ
Can you get a cortisone shot in your back for sciatica?
Yes. Sciatica caused by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis pressing on a lumbar nerve root is one of the most common reasons for an epidural steroid injection. The steroid is delivered into the epidural space near the irritated nerve root, and relief typically starts within 2 to 7 days.
How long does a cortisone shot in the back last?
Relief usually begins within 2 to 7 days, peaks at around two weeks, and lasts from a few weeks to three months for most people. Good responders can get three to six months. About a quarter to a third of people get little or no benefit.
Is a cortisone shot in the back painful?
Most people find it uncomfortable rather than painful. The numbing injection stings briefly, and the epidural injection itself is usually felt as pressure. Many clinics offer light sedation if you are anxious — ask in advance what is available.
How many cortisone shots can you get in your back per year?
Most doctors limit epidural steroid injections to 3 or 4 per year in the same area, with at least 2 to 4 weeks between injections. The limit exists because repeated steroids can weaken bone and cartilage, raise blood sugar and suppress the adrenal glands.
Can a cortisone shot in the back make pain worse?
Yes, temporarily. A pain flare in the first 24 to 48 hours after the injection is common and usually settles on its own with ice and rest. If pain keeps getting worse after 48 hours, or you develop fever, severe headache or new weakness, contact your doctor urgently.
What is the difference between a cortisone shot and an epidural steroid injection?
A cortisone shot is the general name for a corticosteroid injection anywhere in the body. An epidural steroid injection is the specific type of cortisone shot used for back and neck pain — the steroid is injected into the epidural space around the spinal cord and nerve roots.
Who should not get a cortisone shot in the back?
People with an active infection, uncontrolled diabetes, a bleeding disorder, an allergy to steroids or contrast dye, or pregnancy should discuss the risks carefully with their doctor first. The injection should also be avoided if there is a skin infection at the injection site.
Does insurance cover a cortisone shot in the back?
In the US, most insurance plans and Medicare cover epidural steroid injections when they are medically necessary, typically after conservative treatments have been tried. The patient’s share is commonly $50 to $500 depending on the plan and deductible.
What should I do after a cortisone shot in my back?
Rest for the rest of the day, ice the injection site, avoid baths and swimming for 24 to 48 hours, do not drive until the numbness wears off, and restart physical therapy as advised. Keep a simple pain diary for two weeks so your doctor can judge whether the injection worked.
