Can a Virtual Reality Modality Substitute for Procedural Sedation and Improve Tolerance in Patients Receiving Epidural Steroid Injections for Pain? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Are you eligible to participate in this study?

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

  • Conditions:
    Back Pain,covid-19
  • Age: Between 18 years - 105 years
  • Gender: Male or Female
  • Other Inclusion Criteria:
    1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form.
    2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and lifestyle considerations and availability for the duration of the study.
    3. Lumbosacral radicular pain, with duration of pain greater than 6 weeks and no previous lumbar spine surgery.
    4. Documented diagnosis of radicular pain caused by herniated disc, central stenosis, foraminal stenosis, degenerative disk disease.
    5. Willingness to adhere to undergo ESI with either sedation (Midazolam and/or fentanyl) or with virtual reality.
    6. Able to appear for a follow up visit between 24-40 days following the performed intervention.

You may not be eligible for this study if the following are true:

    1. MRI findings discordant with symptoms.
    2. Previous lumbosacral spine surgery at the area affected.
    3. Prior ESI within the past 6 months.
    4. Allergy to contrast dye.
    5. Poorly controlled psychiatric conditions that could affect outcomes (e.g. active substance abuse) or impose a barrier to participation (e.g. anxiety disorder requiring procedural sedation).
    6. Morbid obesity.
    7. Anticoagulation therapy that cannot be stopped and could warrant a different treatment approach.
    8. Local infection over the needle insertion site or systemic infection.



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