I have acute chronic low back pain. my orthopedic said to go for physical therapy instead of injections. is there a limit to epidural injections?

Try conservative 1st: I don't think there is an absolute limit on epidural steroid injections, but i usually reserve injections for patients with severe degenerative changes, especially if there is pressure on nerve roots or the spinal cord. I didn't see your MRI or ct reports, but at age 27, it seems unlikely that you have that sort of problem. I wouldn't advise injections unless surgery was the only other choice.

Yes and No: There are no limits to how many epidural injections you can have. That said repeated steroid based injections put your body at risk for other medical issues down the road. I am assuming based on your age your doctor wanted you to try a more conservative approach first and that is a good model to follow. However if your pain persists after a good physical therapy trial, consider the injections.

Excellent Question: There is not a limit necessarily to epidurals, but literature suggest if no relief after 3 epidurals the risks don't outweigh the benefits of continuing. Epidural steroids are actually an off label use of steroids, but widely accepted after failing more conservative tx. Of low back pain and sciatica such as anti-inflammatories, heat, rest, ice and pt.