Effect of use of NSAIDs or steroids during the acute phase of pain on the incidence of chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials.

Quality of the evidence was low to moderate. No drug can be recommended to prevent chronic nociceptive pain. Injections of steroids (methylprednisolone or dexamethasone) during the acute phase reduce the incidence of chronic neuropathic pain, but most included studies also used local anesthetics. The results are indirect and need to be interpreted with caution. The pooled data effect sizes for pain intensity were small, so the clinical relevance was unclear. Study registration PROSPERO (CRD42022367030).