Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

University of Pittsburgh

Code:

NCT05961800

Conditions

Pain, Chronic

Facet Joint Pain

Pain, Procedural

Analgesia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Cutaneous Probe

Quantitative Sensory Testing

Computer Tasks

Study Details

Brief 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).

Conditions

Pain, Chronic

Facet Joint Pain

Pain, Procedural

Analgesia

Study ID

NCT05961800

Start date

Jul 5, 2023

Status verified date

Jul, 2026

Completion date

Jun, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Scheduled for lumbar MBB in UPMC Pain Management clinics
  • Age > 18 years old
  • Predominantly axial chronic low back pain at least 3 months on a daily basis
  • Must meet the minimum criteria for cognitive function using the PROMIS 2-item cognitive screener (>3)
  • Low back pain intensity of > 3/10
  • Willing and able to receive study-related phone calls

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of spine surgery at the level of the lumbar MBB
  • Active worker's compensation or litigation claims
  • New pain and/or psychiatric treatments within 2 weeks of enrollment
  • Not fluent in English and/or not able to complete the questionnaires
  • Any clinically unstable systemic illness that is judged to interfere with the study

Study Design

Enrollment

40 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Quantitative Sensory Testing

Participants with chronic low back pain and a scheduled lumbar medial branch block undergo quantitative sensory testing.

Interventions

Cutaneous Probe

A computer-controlled probe delivers temperatures to the skin to measure pain, offset analgesia and onset hyperalgesia.

Quantitative Sensory Testing

Standard methods involving pinprick, pressure, heat, and cold applied to the skin are used to measure sensation and pain

Computer Tasks

Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) and computer tasks are used to measure changes in pain intensity.

Primary outcome measure

  • Offset analgesia and onset hyperalgesia [ Time Frame: during this portion of the study visit (30 minutes) ]
  • Low back pain intensity change [ Time Frame: Immediately after lumbar medial branch block and up to 16 hours after lumbar medial branch block ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Maya L Maurer, BS

412-665-8052mam708@pitt.edu

Benedict J Alter, MD, PhD

412-677-0575alterbj@upmc.edu

Locations

UPMC St. Margaret

Recruiting

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15215

Contacts

Maya L Maurer, BS

412-665-8052mam708@pitt.edu

Benedict J Alter, MD, PhD

412-677-0575alterbj@upmc.edu

Principal Investigator:

Benedict J Alter, MD, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Last update posted

Jul 27, 2026

Last verified

Jul, 2026

Keywords

  • lumbar
  • medial branch block
  • offset analgesia
  • onset hyperalgesia
  • QST
  • quantitative sensory testing

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Pittsburgh on 2026-07-27.