Epidural steroid injections for the treatment of dorsopathy. A double blind, randomized study

摘要

Spondylogenic (discogenic) nerve root syndromes often do not respond well to treatment. There are frequent side effects or drug intolerability, and only short periods of pain relief can be achieved. Thus, patients are not receptive to medication. A group of 40 patients with different clinical symptoms of pain syndrome were investigated in a prospective, double blind, randomized study. The study comprised three stages: recruitment of patients, which was followed by treatment (14 day duration), and outcome evaluation. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 received epidural steroid injections (nerve blocks) and group 2 received non-steroid treatment, while both groups received manual (musculoskeletal) therapy (58 patients in total). Intensity and quality of the pain were evaluated throughout the therapeutic period. The results indicate that epidural steroid injections in chronic pain of discogenic etiology are highly effective.