Corticosteroid injections into the epidural space or sacroiliac joint are increasingly used for the treatment of chronic neck, low back, and leg pain. These injections may have several side effects, including suppression of the body's adrenal glands to produce steroids (adrenal suppression) and negative effects on metabolism (weight gain, increased blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels). The purpose of this study is to determine the time course and predictors of adrenal suppression and the metabolic effects of corticosteroid injections for chronic pain. The investigators hypothesize normalization of adrenal function to occur within three weeks of injection in most individuals. An increased frequency of injections is predicted to lead to prolonged adrenal suppression. Corticosteroid injections are also hypothesized to lead to increases in body weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, particularly in diabetic individuals.
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Time to Normalization of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPAA) Function Following Epidural or Sacroiliac Joint Corticosteroid Injection
Timeframe: From date of enrollment (Baseline) until the date of HPAA normalization assessed every 3 weeks up to 6 months