Could a common steroid plus ibuprofen ease shooting back pain faster?

NCT ID NCT05721027

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Montefiore Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Back Pain Low Back Pain radiculopathy

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BACK PAIN WITH RADIATION LOW BACK PAIN RADICULOPATHY, LUMBOSACRAL REGION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center - Weiler ED
RECRUITING

The Bronx, New York, 10461, United States
Montefiore Medical Center - Moses ED
RECRUITING

The Bronx, New York, 10467, United States

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