NEUROANATOMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CORRELATES OF LOW BACK PAIN

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This is a feasibility study evaluating the expression of neurological and inflammatory mediators such as opioids, growth factors and cytokines in normal subjects versus low back pain (LBP) patients diagnosed with severe degenerative disk disease (DDD). Ten experimental subjects (LBP patients) will be recruited from a population of patients scheduled for surgery to treat chronic LBP due to DDD. In addition to a comprehensive, standardized physical and functional assessment of all subjects, we will perform a review of each case history, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar region. The data will be evaluated for correlations between each marker and the physical functional impact of LBP due to DDD. These data will allow us to determine how robust this experimental approach is; how feasible a larger more comprehensive study would be; and how to best design future studies to ensure adequate power.