Electric needles could replace painkiller shots for back pain

NCT ID NCT07273006

Not yet recruiting Symptom relief Sponsor: Universidad Complutense de Madrid Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

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

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As listed by the trial registrant

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

FACET JOINT SYNDROME NON-SPECIFIC LOW BACK PAIN (NSLBP)

Contacts and locations

Locations

Medical University of Warsaw

Warsaw, Warszawa, 02-091, Poland

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