Could a common steroid plus ibuprofen ease shooting back pain faster?
NCT ID NCT05721027
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether adding a short course of dexamethasone (a steroid) to standard ibuprofen treatment can improve pain and disability in people with acute radicular low back pain (pain that shoots from the back down the leg). About 132 adults visiting the emergency department will be randomly assigned to get either dexamethasone or a placebo for two days, plus ibuprofen for a week and a brief education session. Researchers will check how well participants are doing two and seven days later using a disability questionnaire and pain scales.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Ibuprofen and dexamethasone
What this could lead to
If adding dexamethasone works, it could offer a better short-term pain relief option for people with nerve-related back pain seen in the emergency room.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial (132 people) testing a very short treatment (2 days of dexamethasone). The benefit may be small or no better than ibuprofen alone, and results may not apply to everyone with back pain.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center - Weiler ED
RECRUITINGThe Bronx, New York, 10461, United States
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Montefiore Medical Center - Moses ED
RECRUITINGThe Bronx, New York, 10467, United States
Contact