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Oral Corticosteroid Therapy in Lumbar Radiculopathy: Evidence From Randomized Controlled Trials.
Vaishnavi Sharma1,2, Hussein Akil3, Neel Badhe4
1Department of Neurological Surgery, The Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, GBR.
Cureus
|June 22, 2026
Summary
Oral corticosteroids offer some functional improvement for lumbar radicular pain but don't consistently reduce pain or surgery rates. They are linked to more short-term side effects, requiring individualized treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Oral corticosteroids are commonly used for lumbar radicular pain.
- Evidence for their effectiveness and safety is uncertain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on oral corticosteroids for lumbar radicular pain.
- To assess their impact on function, pain, quality of life, surgery rates, and adverse events.
Main Methods:
- Searched major electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus, PubMed) for relevant RCTs.
- Included four trials with 369 participants.
- Assessed risk of bias using Cochrane RoB 2 tool and synthesized data narratively due to heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- One trial showed modest functional improvement but no pain reduction.
- Two trials found no significant differences in pain or function compared to placebo.
- Oral corticosteroids were associated with increased short-term adverse events.
Conclusions:
- Oral corticosteroids may offer limited functional benefits for lumbar radiculopathy.
- They do not consistently alleviate pain or reduce the need for surgery.
- Increased short-term adverse effects necessitate careful, individualized patient selection.
