NCT05961800

Offset Mechanisms in Evaluation of Lumbar Medial Branch Blocks

OMEGA Study: Offset Mechanisms in Evaluation of Lumbar Medial Branch Block

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study examines the relationship between central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms of pain inhibition and the pain relief that occurs following a lumbar medial branch block (MBB).

Detailed description

This study examines the relationship between central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms of pain inhibition and the pain relief that occurs following a commonly-performed nerve block used to diagnose and treat chronic low back pain. Patients scheduled for lumbar medial branch blocks as part of routine clinical care will arrive to clinic prior to the block for quantitative sensory testing procedures that measure CNS pain modulation. Patients will then undergo treatment as usual with their block, subsequently reporting low back pain intensity in a pain diary.

Conditions

• Pain, Chronic
• Facet Joint Pain
• Pain, Procedural
• Analgesia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cutaneous Probe	A computer-controlled probe delivers temperatures to the skin to measure pain, offset analgesia and onset hyperalgesia.
BEHAVIORAL	Quantitative Sensory Testing	Standard methods involving pinprick, pressure, heat, and cold applied to the skin are used to measure sensation and pain
BEHAVIORAL	Computer Tasks	Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) and computer tasks are used to measure changes in pain intensity.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-07-05
• Primary completion: 2026-06-01
• Completion: 2026-06-01
• First posted: 2023-07-27
• Last updated: 2025-07-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States