Treatment of Chronic Thoracic and Neck and Upper Extremity Pain

• To evaluate differences in outcomes in patients receiving steroids compared to those patients randomized to the local anesthetic group who did not receive steroids. [ Time Frame: Patients will return for follow-up visits at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-treatment. The recruitment period is estimated as 24 months with an anticipated study duration of 48 months. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• To evaluate and compare the adverse event profile in all patients. [ Time Frame: Patients will return for follow-up visits at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-treatment. The recruitment period is estimated as 24 months with an anticipated study duration of 48 months. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

This is a Single-center, prospective, controlled, double-blind, randomized study in thoracic and cervical regions.

Patients are studied in 2 groups in each region.

• Group I-local anesthetic only.
• Group II-local anesthetic with 6 mg of non-particulate Celestone.

All patients will be unblinded at 12 or 24 months. Non-responsive patients will be unblinded after 3 months and will be crossed over to a different group, if patient consents. Non-responsive patients may be unblinded and withdrawn from the study at any time.

• Back Pain
• Neck Pain

• Drug: Xylocaine
  0.5% Xylocaine
• Drug: Xylocaine and Celestone
  non-particulate Celestone
  Other Name: Celestone

• Active Comparator: Xylocaine
  0.5% Xylocaine
  Intervention: Drug: Xylocaine
• Active Comparator: Xylocaine and Celestone
  0.5% Xylocaine with 6 mg of non-particulate Celestone.
  Interventions:

  • Drug: Xylocaine
  • Drug: Xylocaine and Celestone

• Manchikanti L, Cash KA, Pampati V, Wargo BW, Malla Y. A randomized, double-blind, active control trial of fluoroscopic cervical interlaminar epidural injections in chronic pain of cervical disc herniation: results of a 2-year follow-up. Pain Physician. 2013 Sep-Oct;16(5):465-78. Erratum in: Pain Physician. 2013 Nov-Dec;16(6):609.
• Manchikanti L, Malla Y, Cash KA, McManus CD, Pampati V. Fluoroscopic epidural injections in cervical spinal stenosis: preliminary results of a randomized, double-blind, active control trial. Pain Physician. 2012 Jan-Feb;15(1):E59-70.
• Manchikanti L, Malla Y, Cash KA, McManus CD, Pampati V. Fluoroscopic cervical interlaminar epidural injections in managing chronic pain of cervical postsurgery syndrome: preliminary results of a randomized, double-blind, active control trial. Pain Physician. 2012 Jan-Feb;15(1):13-25.
• Manchikanti L, Cash KA, McManus CD, Pampati V, Benyamin RM. A preliminary report of a randomized double-blind, active controlled trial of fluoroscopic thoracic interlaminar epidural injections in managing chronic thoracic pain. Pain Physician. 2010 Nov-Dec;13(6):E357-69.
• Manchikanti L, Cash KA, Pampati V, Wargo BW, Malla Y. Cervical epidural injections in chronic discogenic neck pain without disc herniation or radiculitis: preliminary results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Pain Physician. 2010 Jul-Aug;13(4):E265-78.
• Manchikanti L, Cash KA, Pampati V, Wargo BW, Malla Y. The effectiveness of fluoroscopic cervical interlaminar epidural injections in managing chronic cervical disc herniation and radiculitis: preliminary results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Pain Physician. 2010 May-Jun;13(3):223-36. Erratum in: Pain Physician. 2010 Jul-Aurg;13(4):399-400.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects of at least 18 years of age
• Subjects with a history of chronic, function-limiting thoracic or cervical pain with or without upper extremity pain of at least 6 months in duration
• Subjects who are able to give voluntary, written informed consent to participate in this investigation
• Subjects who, in the opinion of the PI, are able to understand this investigation, co-operate with the investigational procedures, and are willing to return to the center for all the required post-operative follow-ups
• Subjects have not had recent surgical procedures within the last 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Compressive radiculopathy
• Narcotic use of no greater than hydrocodone 100 mg/day, methadone of 60 mg, or morphine 180 mg, or dose equivalent
• Uncontrolled major depression or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders
• Uncontrolled or acute medical illnesses including coagulopathy, renal insufficiency, chronic liver dysfunction, progressive neurological deficit, urinary sphincter dysfunction, infection, increased intracranial pressure, pseudotumor cerebri, intracranial tumors, unstable angina, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Chronic severe conditions that could interfere with the interpretations of the outcome assessments for pain and bodily function
• Women who are pregnant or lactating
• Subjects who have participated in a clinical study with an investigational product within 30 days of enrollment
• Patients with multiple complaints involving concomitant shoulder osteoarthritis, due to the overlap of pain complaints
• Inability to achieve appropriate positioning and inability to understand informed consent and protocol
• History of adverse reaction to local anesthetic or anti-inflammatory drugs and history of gastrointestinal bleeding or ulcers.