Receiving a steroid shot for back pain may only provide temporary relief, says a study cited in the Washington Post.

People suffering from chronic back pain caused by herniated discs or spinal stenosis often seek help by getting steroid injections to the tune of some 800,000 to several million times per year.

Radiculopathy, the medical term for back pain that radiates to the legs, is one of the most common problems for which patients visit their doctor.   Commonly called sciatica, the discomfort can range from merely uncomfortable to almost impossible to live with.

Researchers looked at data from some 30 studies of steroid injections and found that “small benefits” were received for shots given for sciatica, but the relief did not last very long.

They also were unable to find any benefits from the injections when administered for relief from spinal stenosis.

The researchers tried to look at the way the shots were administered, dosage, and types of steroids to find a pattern, but were unable to find any clear differences in either benefit from the shots or harm caused by the shots.

The panel, led by Roger Chou, a professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, said you may see some relief for a few weeks, but not to expect any long-term benefits.  He added the injections were not likely to decrease the likelihood of surgery as a more permanent solution.

He also pointed out that consumers have a perception that the injections are more effective than they actually are, and advised sufferers to seek treatment from their primary care physician.

An outbreak of meningitis was associated with steroid shots that had been contaminated in a Massachusetts pharmacy on 2012 that killed 45 people and caused another 600 to become ill.

The results of the study were published in Annals of Internal Medicine earlier this week.