New study pits two back pain injections Head-to-Head
NCT ID NCT07632820
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study compares two common injection treatments for chronic mid-back pain: the erector spinae plane (ESP) block and trigger point injection (TPI). About 76 adults with pain lasting at least three months will be randomly assigned to one treatment. Researchers will track pain levels, physical function, and emotional well-being for up to 12 weeks to see which approach works better.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Bupivacaine
- What this could lead to
- If this trial succeeds, it could show that one injection method provides better pain relief and function for people with chronic mid-back pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study with only 76 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and both treatments may offer only temporary relief.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 76 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Aug 2026
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18-80 years * Chronic thoracic myofascial pain lasting at least three months * Pain intensity of ≥4 on 11-point NRS * At least two of three following conditions: Focal thoracic paraspinal pain, palpable taut band, referred pain pattern with palpation Exclusion Criteria: * Thoracic radiculopathy * Cervical myelopathy with neurological deficit * Prior cervicothoracic spine surgery * Pregnancy or lactation * Contraindication to local anesthetic * Active malignancy * Fibromyalgia * BMI \>40 kg/m2 * Workers' compensation or active litigation related to thoracic pain * Acute herpes zoster or history of postherpetic neuralgia involving thoracic dermatomes * Current opioid use \>50 morphine milligram equivalents daily * Severe psychiatric or cognitive disorders, specifically history of schizophrenia, chronic psychotic disorders, dementia * History of substance use disorder * Inability to provide informed consent
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
5 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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MD Anderson Cancer Center
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGHouston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Mayo Clinic
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGJacksonville, Florida, 32224, United States
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Mayo Clinic
RECRUITINGRochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
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The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGColumbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
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University of Maryland
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGBaltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Rewiring the brain to fight back pain?