Are epidural injections for lower back pain a good idea, are they successful?

Sometimes: They may have benefit for treatment of nerve compression secondary to spinal stenosis. The benefit generally lasts about 6 months if it is successful although some may get significantly longer benefit. At age 27 it is difficult to believe that they will help. What did your MRI show?

Could be: If physical therapy, non narcotic medications, exercises have failed, then a trial of epidurals could be worthwhile. They do not always work but can be very helpful at times.

A week to a year of : If pain in the back goes down one or both legs and is caused by a disk herniation, an epidural steroid injection may provide a week to a year of relief.