The Effect of Resolvins on the Resolve of Inflammatory Low Back Pain

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Brief Summary: Inflammatory back pain is a chronic condition localized in the axial spine and sacroiliac joints.1 It often accompanies mechanical issues like lumbar disc herniation. While non-surgical interventions such as medication, physiotherapy, and epidural steroid injections are typically the initial approach, surgical options may be considered if these prove ineffective.2 Resolvins, derived from omega-3 fatty acids, have shown promise in reducing inflammation and pain. They help to resolve inflammatory responses, promote tissue repair, and decrease disc size, potentially reducing the need for surgery.3,4 This clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of adding oral resolvins to transforaminal epidural steroid injections for treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH) The control group (Group C: n=25) will receive epidural steroids, while the study group (Group R: n=25) will receive both oral omega-3 supplementation and epidural steroids on the same day. Additionally, the study group will continue taking oral omega-3 supplements for six months. The primary outcome measure will be changes in protruded/extruded disc size assessed via MRI, with secondary outcomes including pain levels measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and serum cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-17, IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha) over the study period. Discussion: This trial anticipates that combining the anti-inflammatory properties of resolvins with epidural steroid injection will provide a beneficial treatment for patients suffering from inflammatory low back pain.

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