title: The Effectiveness of Oral Corticosteroids for Management of Lumbar Radiating Pain: Randomized, Controlled Trial Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although both pregabalin and gabapentin are known to be useful for treating lumbar radiating pain and reducing the incidence of surgery, the oral corticosteroids sometimes offer a dramatic effect on severe radiating pain despite the lack of scientific evidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 54 patients were enrolled among 703 patients who complained of lumbar radiating pain. Twenty patients who received an oral corticosteroid was classified as group A and 20 patients who received the control drugs (pregabalin or gabapentin) as group B. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Revised Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire, lumbar radiating pain, objective patient satisfaction, and objective improvement of patients or physicians were assessed at 2, 6, and 12 weeks after medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference in the sex ratio and age was observed between the groups (p = 0.70 and p = 0.13, respectively). Group A showed greater improvement in radiating pain after 2, 6, and 12 weeks than group B (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). No differences were observed between the groups in satisfaction at the beginning and 12 weeks after taking the medication (p = 0.062 and p = 0.061, respectively) and in objective improvement of patients and physicians (p = 0.657 and p = 0.748, respectively). Group A was less disabled and had greater physical health scores than group B (p = 0.014 and p = 0.017, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral corticosteroids for the treatment of lumbar radiating pain can be more effective in pain relief than gabapentin or pregabalin. The satisfaction of patients and physicians with the drug and objective improvement status were not inferior to that with gabapentin or pregabalin.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Sangbong
authors: S
authors: Ko
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Sungguk
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Jaejung
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Taebum
authors: T
authors: Oh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000069583:Pregabalin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000188:drug therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin
keywords: Corticosteroids; Gabapentin; Pregabalin; Radiculopathies