Spine steroid shot eases back pain for a month, but not a year
NCT ID NCT00804531
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a steroid injection directly into the spinal disc could reduce pain in people with chronic lower back pain and disc inflammation (Modic I). 137 participants received either the steroid or a placebo. The steroid helped lower pain at 1 month, but the effect did not last to 12 months. It may offer short-term relief for some patients.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Hydrocortancyl (steroid)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could provide a short-term pain relief option for people with chronic back pain and disc inflammation.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed Phase 4 trial with 137 participants. The steroid injection only helped pain at 1 month, not at 12 months, so it is not a long-term solution. Risks include injection-related complications.
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
-
Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
-
137 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
-
Apr 2009
- Finished
-
Nov 2015
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 to 70 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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 : * More than 18 and less than 70 years old * Low back pain * Daily pain for at least 3 months * Pain level during the last 48 hours \> 40 on the numeric pain scale (0-100) * Lack of efficacy of usual recommended treatments and of other spine steroid injections (epidural or facet joints injections) * Modic I discopathy on MRI * Intra-discal injection at least 6 months before inclusion * Written informed consent * Social security * Medical examination Non inclusion criteria : * Pregnancy * Hypersensitivity to methylprednisolone or contrast * Local or general infection * Previous disc surgery less than 6 months * Steroid treatment * Previous infectious spondylodiscitis * Ankylosing spondylitis * Sciatica with neurologic defects * Uncontrolled psychiatric conditions * Inability to read or understand French language * Anti-vitamin K treatments * Severe coagulation diseases * Fever \> 38 or sedimentation rate \> 20 * Discopathy with MODIC 1 signal on several different lumbar stages
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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
-
Hôpital Cochin
Paris, 75014, France
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