The study is designed as a double-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Blindness is ensured by having different researchers performing the interventional procedures and monitoring the pain diaries, thus preventing them from knowing which procedure is performed on which patient. Patient randomization will be performed using computer assistance.
After obtaining approval from the hospital ethics committee, clinical trials will be initiated. Patients who present to the Department of Neurology, Algology Division, ADÜTF between 2025-2026 and undergo DRG-PRF and TFAESI for radicular pain due to cervical disc herniation will be divided into two groups. Patients in Group 1 will undergo DRG-PRF and TFAESI with the addition of local anesthetic. Patients in Group 2 will undergo DRG-PRF and TFAESI without the addition of local anesthetic. During the study, NRS score measurements will be taken to assess pain intensity in patients in both Group 1 and Group 2 before the procedure and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-procedure follow-ups. Neurological and musculoskeletal examinations will be performed during routine check-ups before the procedure and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure, and any developing side effects will be recorded.
Who can participate
Age range
18 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:
* Patients consisted of those who presented to our outpatient clinic with neck and arm pain, who had received medical and/or physical therapy but whose symptoms did not improve.
Exclusion Criteria:
* The procedure was not performed on those with neurological deficits requiring surgery, those with known allergies to lidocaine and dexamethasone, those who had recently undergone head and neck surgery, diabetic patients with impaired blood sugar regulation, those who had received epidural steroid injections or depot steroids within the last 15 days, those with progressive neurological deficits, those with coagulation disorders (INR \> 1.5; platelets \< 100,000/mm³), those with any lesion or infection in the cervical region that would prevent epidural intervention, and pregnant women.
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
To compare whether the addition of a local anesthetic to combined DRG-pulsed RF and transforaminal anterior epidural steroid injection (TAESI) treatment makes a difference in clinical efficacy in patients with cervical disc herniation