Cervical Pain
Conditions
Brief summary
This study examines the effectiveness of cervical epidural steroid injections (CESI) and neural mobilization (NM), individually and in combination, in alleviating cervical radicular pain-a condition characterized by nerve root compression or irritation often due to herniated discs or bony spurs. Cervical radiculopathy leads to chronic pain, sensory and motor deficits, and disability in the upper limbs.
Detailed description
The study is a randomized controlled trial conducted between April and October 2024, with patients diagnosed with cervical radicular pain randomized into three groups: CESI-only, NM-only, and combined CESI and NM.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTCervical Epidural Steroid Injection (CESI)
Participants in this group received CESI to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain in the cervical nerve roots.
COMBINATION_PRODUCTNeural Mobilization (NM)
Participants in this group underwent NM exercises aimed at improving nerve mobility and reducing symptoms related to nerve compression.
Sponsors
Superior University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adults aged 18-65 years, diagnosed with chronic cervical radicular pain. * Patients with chronic cervical radicular pain (\>6 months). * Patients who had been confirmed through clinical examination and imaging studies (MRI or CT) showed evidence of nerve root compression. * Participants were included if they provided written informed consent, demonstrated the ability to adhere to the study protocol, and committed to attending follow-up appointments while completing the required outcome measures.
Exclusion criteria
* Patient refusal. * Patients above the age of 65 were eliminated to reduce confounding by age-related health concerns and to provide a more homogenous study population for more accurate treatment outcomes. * Patients with a history of cervical spine surgery, Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension Ischemic Heart Disease, and Pregnancy * Patients with chronic pain syndromes that may interfere with cervical radicular pain evaluation, such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or hypersensitivity, will be excluded. These disorders will be evaluated during screening using a complete medical history review, physical examination, and precise diagnostic criteria to guarantee correct detection of cervical radicular discomfort.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) | 12 Months | Participants will rate their pain intensity on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating the worst possible pain. This measure will assess changes in pain levels from baseline through various follow-up points. |
| The Neck Disability Index (NDI) | 12 months | The NDI consists of ten questions in the following domains: Pain Intensity, Personal Care, Lifting, Reading, Headaches, Concentration, Work, Driving, Sleeping, and Recreation. Each question contains six answer choices, scored from 0 (no disability) to 5 (complete disability |
Countries
Pakistan
Outcome results
None listed