Stanford Report, May 24, 2006

Volunteers needed for back pain study

Researchers in the Department of Anesthesia are conducting a study of patients with chronic low back pain.

The Stanford Back Pain Study is a multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical study funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. The goal is to learn more about how pain medications can be used to treat chronic low back pain. Researchers hope to use the information gained from this study to help develop more effective treatments for patients who suffer from chronic pain.

Study participants will receive—at no cost—a physician evaluation and the medication being used in the study. They also will be paid a $200 stipend after they have completed the one-month period of participation that the study requires.

If you are between the ages of 18-70 and have moderate to severe chronic low back pain, you may be eligible to participate. Information about eligibility and applications for participating are online at http://backpain.stanford.edu. Additional information can be obtained by e-mailing stanfordbackpain@gmail.com or by calling 724-2970.