Oral steroids for acute radiculopathy due to a herniated lumbar disk: a randomized clinical trial

269 patients with acute radiculopathy due to a herniated lumbar disk were included in this study. Patients were randomized to undergo a 15-day oral prednisone protocol or an identical protocol with a placebo in order to determine the efficacy of oral steroids in treating sciatica in this population. The study found that while the treatment demonstrated modest improvements in function, as evidenced by significantly greater Oswestry Disability Index scores at 3 and 52 weeks, pain outcomes remained comparable between the groups.