Ear Pressure Points Plus Pain Meds for Faster Kidney Stone Pain Relief (NCT06978816) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Ear Pressure Points Plus Pain Meds for Faster Kidney Stone Pain Relief
China116 participantsStarted 2025-06-01
Plain-language summary
Title: Can Ear Acupressure Help Relieve Kidney Stone Pain Faster When Combined with Painkillers?
Purpose:
This study tests whether adding ear acupressure to standard painkillers (NSAIDs) helps adults with kidney stone pain feel better faster. The investigators also want to know if this combination causes any side effects.
Key Questions:
Does ear acupressure + NSAIDs reduce pain more quickly than NSAIDs alone? Are there any safety concerns with this treatment? How does real ear acupressure compare to a fake (placebo) procedure? Who Can Join? Adults aged 18-75 Experiencing moderate-to-severe kidney stone pain (confirmed by CT or ultrasound) No recent painkiller use or allergies to NSAIDs
What Participants Will Do:
Receive in the emergency room:
Real treatment: Tiny needles placed on 3 ear points + NSAIDs (ketorolac injection) OR Placebo treatment: Fake tape on ear points + NSAIDs (same injection) Rate their pain on a 0-10 scale over 60 minutes. Have their heart rate and blood pressure checked.
Study Details:
Duration: Single ER visit (no long-term follow-up) Participants Needed: 116 Safety: Rescue pain medication (like morphine) is available if needed.
Why This Matters:
Kidney stones cause severe pain, and current painkillers may not work fast enough. Ear acupressure is a low-risk method from traditional Chinese medicine that could provide quicker relief.
Ethics:
Approved by Changhai Hospital's Ethics Committee. Participants can leave the study anytime.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Age between 15 and 75 years (inclusive)
. Diagnosis of urinary tract stones confirmed by CT or ultrasound
. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score ≥ 4 (indicating moderate to severe renal colic)
. No severe cardiac, hepatic, or pulmonary dysfunction, and no coagulation disorders.
. No psychiatric disorders
Exclusion criteria
. Use of any analgesic medication within the past 6 hours.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Response rate of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) reduction
Timeframe: At 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after intervention initiation