Journal of Pain & Relief
Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Although both pregabalin and gabapentin are known to be useful for treating lumbar radiating pain and reduce the incidence of surgery, the oral corticosteroids sometimes represents a dramatic effect on severe radiating pain despite a lack of scientific evidence. Methods: A total 54 patients were enrolled among 703 patients who complained of lumbar radiating pain. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are shown in Table 1. 20 patients who received the oral corticosteroids were as group A and 20 patients who received the control drugs(Pregablin or Gabapentin) were as group B. Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), Revised Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire(RMDQ), Short Form 36(SF-36) questionnaire, lumbar radiating pain, objective patient satisfaction, objective improvement of both patients or physician were measured at each visits (2, 6, 12 weeks). Results: No difference in the sex ratio and age was observed between the groups (each p=0.70, p=0.13). Oral corticosteroids group showed greater improvement in radiating pain after 2, 6, and 12 weeks than that in group B (each p=0.000, 0.001, and 0.000). No differences in satisfaction were observed between two groups (p=0.062, and 0.061) and no differences in the magnitude of patients� and physician�s were observed between the groups (each p=0.657, p=0.748). Group A is less disabled and physical health scores than group B (each p=0.014, p=0.017). Conclusions: Oral corticosteroid for treatment of lumbar radiating pain is more effective in pain relief than gabapentin or pregabalin. The satisfaction of patients and physician on that drugs and objective improvement status were not inferior to the gabapentin or pregablin.

Biography

Email: bong@cu.ac.kr