21 patients with lumbar radiculopathy due to a herniated nucleus pulposus or spinal stenosis were included in a study investigating the effects of selective nerve root blocks in the lumbar spine on preventing the need for operative treatment. Patients had been randomized in a prior study, that included 55 patients, to receive bupivacaine alone or bupivacaine and betamethasone. 29 of these patient avoided surgey and 21 on were available to be followed up at 5 years. After 5 years, there was no difference between the two groups for the proportion of patients who did not require surgery. 17 of 21 patients receiving a nerve root injection who did not require surgery at 1 year continued to 5 years without needing operative intervention. All patients who did not receive surgery at 5 years demonstrated significant improvement in neurological symptoms and back pain.