I have herniated disc l5-s1, getting epidural steroid injections. will it help with weakness and numbness or does it only help pain?

Both : The steroids can reduce the swollen protruding disc and relieve pressure on the nerves causing your symptoms. The downside is there can be weakening of the annular ring which can make for problems in the future.

Generally helps pain: Numbness and weakness are not improved by steroid injections. Generally steroid injections are used to alleviate the pain associated with a herniated disk.

Not really: Disc herniations generally disappear on their own and all the symptoms are likely to resolve with time. The eds may make the symptoms less during this healing period and may allow you to wait it out. They do not by themselves help weakness or numbness. If you have severe weakness, you may want to consider additional alternatives.

Most helps with pain: Epidural steroid injections (esi) mostly help alleviate pain. If weakness is caused by pain, then you will be able to move better and feel stronger. Numbness is the last aspect to recover following esi.

Possibly: Possibly, depending on the severity of the nerve compression from disc herniation. This can be improved by epidural injection. By decreasing the inflammation around the nerve. Epidural steroid injection can provide pain relief and help with weakness and numbness - the intent is to promote the healing process around the nerve and to avoid surgery.

Go see neurosurgeon: Steroid injections help reduce nerve swelling/inflammation/pain. They do not remove the cause of the problem. Weakness and numbness are signs of nerve dysfunction or even damage. Masking the symptoms is not an option here. See a neurosurgeon promptly for a detailed exam. Treatment will likely be non-surgical but if there are signs of nerve damage you will need a micro-discectomy.

Possibly: Epidural steroid injection is mostly used to controlled pain. Steroid injections help reduce nerve swelling/inflammation/pain. If the swelling and inflammation improve, the numbness might improve. However, the weakness might not improve. If you don't respond to the steroid injection, you might benefit from a surgical evaluation.

Hard to say: once inflammation is removed, then if your weakness and numbness improve it will help. typically though weakness suggests significant compression on the nerve and that may take time to return. Numbness also in my experience is the last thing to improve from nerve injuries or compression.