Pain-Related Clinical Trials

Chronic knee pain is the most common of all the joint complaints in America. The latest estimates suggest that about 27 millions Americans report this problem. There are many possible causes including traumatic injury, repetitive movements like climbing or lifting, being overweight, injuries to other joints, and genetics. The most common type of knee pain is osteoarthritis. The discomfort can show up as stiffness, tenderness, trouble walking, difficulty going up stairs, and loss of flexibility. For most people with osteoarthritis in their knees, the stiffness occurs mainly in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time. As the day wears on, the discomfort generally lessens or goes away completely, until another episode of immobility (like sitting too long or sleeping), or exercise (any level of weight-bearing exercise) causes it to return.

Lower back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability in America and a leading reason that people miss work. Most episodes are caused by some sort of trauma to the lower back. This can include a car accident, a sports injury, or even just working around the house. For most people, the discomfort lasts just a few days, but for others, it becomes a constant part of their lives. Symptoms can range from sharp pain in a specific location to a dull ache that seems to spread. Any painful sensation that lasts for longer than 3 months is considered to be chronic.

Headaches are the most common neurological complaint in the United States. They can be a sign of other medical conditions like a sinus infection or meningitis, or can be completely unrelated to anything else as in the case of migraines. In order to figure out the best treatment option and to possibly reduce the number and frequency of headaches, it’s important to know the underlying cause. It’s often the case that treatment for a headache requires treating the underlying condition.

Pain can also be related to a number of mental health disorders including depression and anxiety. These can cause general feelings of discomfort throughout the body, but most commonly cause muscle tension in the back, neck and shoulders. These aches and pains, when coupled with the general loss of energy that also frequently comes with depression and anxiety, often prevent people from getting regular exercise or taking part in activities that they would otherwise enjoy. Both of these have been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. This can start a cycle of further decreases in energy, further reductions in exercise, increased physical pain and then more depression or anxiety.