Could a gentle ear zap boost pain relief for pinched nerves?
NCT ID NCT07557823
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a gentle electrical stimulation of the ear (taVNS) given before a standard epidural steroid injection can improve pain relief for people with cervical radiculopathy—a pinched nerve in the neck causing arm pain. Eighty adults will be randomly assigned to receive either real taVNS or a sham (fake) stimulation before their injection. The main goal is to see how many people have at least a 50% drop in pain the day after the procedure.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and cervical epidural injection of corticosteroid and local anesthetic
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new, non-invasive way to boost pain relief for people with pinched nerves in the neck.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with no prior results. The nerve stimulation may not add benefit over the epidural injection alone, and some people may not respond.
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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
Locations
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The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Facility Address 88 Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310009, P.R.China
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
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