Brain, Psychological and Epigenetic Determinants for Optimizing the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain

Participation Requirements

• Sex:

  ALL

• Eligible Ages:

  18 to 75

Participation Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Low back pain (≥ 6 months) with or without pain radiating to the legs or radiating to the neck
* Positive medial branch blocks, suggesting that the pain originates from the lumbar facet joints
* Average pain intensity of ≥ 3/10 in the 24-hour period before the initial visit
* Pain primarily localized in the lower back

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inadequate pain relief or relief of less than three months following selective thermoablation of medial lumbar branches by radiofrequency
* Neurological, cardiovascular, or pulmonary disorders
* Comorbid pain syndrome
* History of surgical intervention in the back
* A corticosteroid infiltration within the past year
* Pregnancy (current or planned during the course of the study)
* Contra-indication to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)