Neuraxial glucocorticoids

Still, with all controversies as to mode of administration, choice of drug, dose, concentration or adjuvants, there seems to be proper documentation of analgesic effect from neuraxial glucocorticoids during acute episodes of low back pain and radiating pain. The effect may be evident within a few hours and may last for 1-3 weeks and up to 3-6 months in some studies. However, the analgesic effect does not seem to be superior to placebo when evaluated beyond this time-frame, or in terms of outcome or risk of recurrence. 

For injection of glucocorticoids into neuraxial and joint structures, there seems to be the best analgesic effect with acute pain, lasting for some weeks whereas the documentation ofbenefit declines with the increasing chronicity of pain and when observations beyond 2-3 months are done. 

There seems to be minor difference in the effect of different glucocorticoids, although few comparative studies on equipotent doses of different drugs have been done. Still, for injection into dehcate structures such as joints and peri-neuraxial tissue, there is a... 

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