Do chronic back pain lead to changes in the brain?

Study on chronic back pain: healthy volunteers wanted
Almost 80 percent of all Germans suffer from back pain every now and then. Many of them have chronic pain. The life of those affected is severely impaired. Researchers are now addressing the question of whether pain also affects the brain. For the study still healthy subjects are searched.

Chronic pain changes the brain?
Around five million people suffer from chronic pain. The everyday life of those affected is thereby enormously impaired. Researchers at the Day Clinic for Pain Therapy at the University Hospital Jena (UKJ) are now investigating in a study whether these pains also change the brain. For this they are still looking for healthy people without chronic pain between 30 and 65 years.

In a study, researchers want to investigate whether chronic low back pain leads to changes in the brain. The later findings should help to improve the treatment of those affected. (Image: SENTELLO / fotolia.com)

Cause in the brain
When the pain persists, the back is often affected. "The largest groups of chronic neurological pain are chronic headaches and chronic back pain with and without radiation," said Tim J. von Oertzen of Wagner-Jauregg Hospital in Linz, Austria, last year. According to US researchers, the cause of chronic pain is in the brain.

Development of chronic pain
With the current study, the UKJ wants to "gain new insights into the development of chronic pain in order to improve the treatment of affected patients," explained apl. med. Winfried Meißner from the Day Clinic for Pain Therapy at the UKJ in a statement.

"In the study, we investigate whether chronic back pain leads to permanent neurochemical and functional changes in the brain and whether they can be positively influenced by a comprehensive therapy in our pain clinic," said the physician.

Healthy study participants searched
For this purpose, detailed images of the brain of pain patients in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are created. In the evaluation, these results are compared with the measurements of healthy subjects from the control group.

According to the information, participants are examined twice on MRT every four weeks. For the resulting images of the brain, neither X-rays nor contrast agents are used. According to the communication, the study takes about two hours per investigation. In addition to an allowance, the study participants also include a refund of travel costs and a CD with the images of their brains.

Further information on participation as a healthy subject can be obtained by calling +49 (0) 3641/9 325798 or by e-mail to [email protected].

Self-help with back pain
Those who only occasionally suffer from back pain can often cure themselves. Since more than 80 percent of these conditions are muscular, experts usually recommend exercises to prevent the pain. If symptoms have set in, special back pain exercises or heat therapy can help. Other tips against back pain: avoid overweight or reduce it if necessary and do sports regularly. (Ad)