Effect of caudal epidural steroid or saline injection in chronic lumbar radiculopathy: multicentre, blinded, randomised controlled trial

Dear Sirs,

You would find that intracutaneous sterile water injections work
better than subcutaneous ones.

And they cannot be considered sham intervention!

This method is well established and has been applied for many years.
There are no side effects and both short and long term relief is induced.

References

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009;88(2):231-3.
Effectiveness of subcutaneous injection of sterile water to the lower back
for pain relief in labor.
Kushtagi P, Bhanu BT.
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19096945

Women Birth. 2008 Dec;21(4):157-63. Epub 2008 Oct 15.
Intradermal sterile water injections for the relief of low back pain in
labour -- a systematic review of the literature.
Fogarty V.
UNSW Rural Clinical School, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18926789

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2008 Aug;48(4):369-74.
Sterile water injections as treatment for low-back pain during labour: a
review.
M?rtensson L, Wallin G.
School of Life Sciences, University of Sk?vde, Sk?vde, Sweden.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18837842

J Med Assoc Thai. 2006 May;89(5):571-6.
Relief of low back labor pain by using intracutaneous injections of
sterile water: a randomized clinical trial.
Wiruchpongsanon P.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taksin Hospital, Khlongsan,
Bangkok, Thailand.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16756038

Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1999 Jul;106(7):633-7.
Labour pain treated with cutaneous injections of sterile water: a
randomised controlled trial.
M?rtensson L, Wallin G.
Department of Health Sciences, University of Sk?vde, Sweden.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10428516

Can Fam Physician. 1994 Oct;40:1785-8, 1791-2.
Intracutaneous sterile water for back pain in labour.
Reynolds JL.
Department of Family Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Centre, London, Ont.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7950471

Lancet. 1993 Feb 20;341(8843):449-52.
Subcutaneous sterile water injections for chronic neck and shoulder pain
following whiplash injuries.
Byrn C, Olsson I, Falkheden L, Lindh M, H?sterey U, Fogelberg M, Linder
LE, Bunketorp O.
Department of Anaesthesia, Sahlgrenska Hospital, University of Gothenburg,
Sweden.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8094485

Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1991 Jan;35(1):52-3.
Treatment of neck and shoulder pain in whip-lash syndrome patients with
intracutaneous sterile water injections.
Byrn C, Borenstein P, Linder LE.
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Sahlgren's Hospital
University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2006599

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1989;68(4):341-3.
Relief of low back pain in labor by using intracutaneous nerve stimulation
(INS) with sterile water papules.
Lytzen T, Cederberg L, M?ller-Nielsen J.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, V?rnamo Hospital, Sweden.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2533452