Electric needles could replace painkiller shots for back pain

NCT ID NCT07273006

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a technique called percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) can replace standard nerve blocks for people with chronic low back pain. PENS uses thin needles to deliver mild electrical pulses, aiming to reduce pain without drugs or steroids. The trial will enroll 82 adults with non-specific low back pain and compare immediate pain relief from PENS versus a lidocaine nerve block.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS)

What this could lead to

If successful, PENS could offer a safer, non-drug alternative to nerve blocks for diagnosing and treating chronic back pain, reducing risks from steroids and large needles.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial (82 people) comparing two procedures. PENS may not work as well as nerve blocks, and results may not apply to all back pain types.

Disclaimer Read more

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

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Medical University of Warsaw

    Warsaw, Warszawa, 02-091, Poland

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••