Back

New Spinal Injection Treatment for Low Back Pain

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate work for the knees; why not the back? Each of these supplements can be taken as a pill for osteoarthritis of the knees. They help the cartilage cells (called chondrocytes) stay healthy. At the same time, they slow the enzymes that can tear down chondrocytes.

Studies have already shown that patients who take glucosamine or chondroitin for knee pain don't get relief from their back pain. But maybe injecting these substances into the disc space could help back pain sufferers with disc disease.

This theory is the basis for a pilot study by doctors at the Spinal Diagnostics and Treatment Center in California. A pilot study means something is being tried for the first time. Before spending a lot of money on an idea, researchers try it out on a small scale to see if it works. If the results are good, a larger study can be done.

Thirty patients with chronic low back pain were studied. All of them had many other treatments, and all failed to respond or responded poorly. In this study, everyone was injected with a solution made of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, DMSO, and Marcaine (a numbing agent like lidocaine).

The first injection went into the damaged disc. A second injection (without the chondroitin) was put into the facet joints at the same level as the disc. This was because previous studies showed that chondroitin is irritating to the joints.

Success was based on the patient's report of pain and disability. The results were divided. Half the group got at least 50 percent better, while a third failed to respond. The remaining patients got some relief from pain but not enough. Everyone had some amount of pain after the injection.

The authors think the results of this pilot study are good enough to take the next step. They think that injections of glucosamine and chondroitin may help reduce back pain from disc disease. Another larger study is planned.

References: Robert G. Klein, MD, et al. Biochemical Injection Treatment for Discogenic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study. In The Spine Journal. May/June 2003. Vol. 3. No. 3. Pp. 220-226.

Back