Chronic Back Pain Relief Research

Millions of us suffer from chronic back pain and are desperate for treatments that will ease our pain. Is there any chronic back pain relief research being conducted?

Yes! Research on acute and chronic back pain relief is conducted on an ongoing basis by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NINDS, and also by other institutes of the National Institutes of Health, NIH. The NIH also supports back pain relief research through grants to a number of major medical institutions.

What is being done in chronic back pain relief research?

A number of things. Comparisons are being made of different health care approaches to the management of chronic and acute back pain. For instance, the comparison of standard care to that of acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage therapy.

• measurements of symptom relief
• restoration of function
• patient satisfaction

...as well as comparisons of standard surgical treatments to the most commonly used standard nonsurgical treatments, in order to measure changes in health-related quality of life among patients suffering from spinal stenosis.

Additionally, research funded by the NIH at the Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research encourages the development of high-quality projects. The Center also promotes collaboration between basic and clinical scientists, and between conventional and chiropractic medical communities.

What else is chronic back pain relief research considering?

• whether low-dose radiation can decrease scarring around the spinal cord and improve results after surgery
• why spinal cord injury and other neurological changes lead to an increased sensitivity to pain, or a decreased pain threshold
• how fractures of the spine and their repair affect the spinal canal and intervertebral foramina (openings around the spinal roots)
• artificial spinal disc replacement surgery

Information on Back Pain Relief Research

Whether you are suffering from upper back pain or in search of lower back pain help, you may find useful information from the following institutions.

American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons
10 Cascade Creek Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89113
aanos@aanot.org
www.aanos.org
Phone: 702-388-7390
Fax: 702-871-4728

American Academy of Orthodpaedic Surgeons
American Association of Orthodpaedic Surgeons
6300 North River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018
hackett@aaos.org
www.aaos.org
Phone: 847-823-7186
Fax: 847-823-8125

American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
330 North Wabash Avenue
Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60611-7617
info@aapmr.org
www.aapmr.org
Phone: 312-464-9700
Fax: 312-464-0227

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
5550 Meadowbrook Drive
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008-3852
info@aans.org
www.aans.org
Phone: 847-378-0500/888-566-AANS (2267)
Fax: 847-378-0600

American Chronic Pain Association, ACPA
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677-0850
ACPA@pacbell.net
www.theacpa.org
Phone: 916-632-0922/800-533-3231
Fax: 916-632-3208

American Pain Foundation
201 North Charles Street
Suite 710
Baltimore, MD 21201-4111
info@painfoundation.org
www.painfoundation.org
Phone: 888-615-PAIN (7246)
Fax: 410-385-1832

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
www.niams.nih.gov
Phone: 877-22-NIAMS (226-4267)/301-565-2966 (TTY)
Fax: 301-718-6366

Information contained on this page regarding institutions and chronic back pain relief research is provided with permission by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NINDS, website.