Injection for Chronic Back Pain

Author: University of Manchester
Published: 2011/05/19
Topic: Back Pain Information - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Biomaterial implant may finally bring treatment in the form of a jab for chronic back pain.

Introduction

Implant jab could solve the misery of back pain - University of Manchester scientists have developed a biomaterial implant which could finally bring treatment, in the form of a jab, for chronic back pain.

Main Item

Chronic lower back pain is a major problem for society - behind only headaches as the most common neurological ailment - and is frequently caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

Researchers have worked for many years to find a way of repairing the wear and tear on the lower back.

Now, in results published in the journal Soft Matter, they have discovered how to permanently replace the workings of the invertebrate disc.

It is estimated that back pain affects 80% of people at some point in their lives. In the United States it is the most common cause of job-related disability, a leading contributor to people missing work. The University of Manchester cross-faculty team have been working with microgel particles, which are swell-able nanoscopic polymer particles, for a number of years.

Previously, they have demonstrated that an injectable fluid of these particles could transform into a gel that restored the mechanical properties of damaged model intervertebral discs.

Lead researcher Dr Brian Saunders, of the School of Materials, and his team have now succeeded in linking the microgel particles together to form injectable durable, elastic gels capable of sustaining large permanent changes in shape without breaking.

These improved injectable gels have much better mechanical properties than the first generation and should now display the necessary long-term durability required for an implanted device.

In this study the researchers - who include PhD student Amir Milani and Dr Ruixue Liu - have achieved an important milestone for producing injectable gels for minimally-invasive repair of IVD degeneration.

Dr Saunders said: ""Our team has made a breakthrough through innovative materials design that brings the prospect of an injectable gel for treating degeneration of the intervertebral disc a step closer.

Professor Tony Freemont, Head of Research in the School of Biomedicine, and co-author on the paper, added: "Degeneration of the intervertebral disc results in chronic back pain which costs the country billions of pounds per annum and causes untold misery for sufferers and their families.

"We have been working for 25 years to identify methods for treating degeneration of the intervertebral disc."

This work has been funded by the EPSRC and was recently awarded Proof-of-Principle (PoP) funding by The University of Manchester Intellectual Property Limited (UMIP).

Explore Similar Topics

- Surgery for sciatica reduces leg pain and disability for some people but benefits of surgery are short-lived and certainty of evidence supporting its use is low.

- Spinal cord stimulation, a medical technology suggested to treat people with chronic back pain, does not provide long-term relief and may cause harm.

Citing and References

Founded in 2004, Disabled World (DW) is a leading resource on disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility, supporting the disability community. Learn more on our About Us page.

Cite This Page: University of Manchester. (2011, May 19). Injection for Chronic Back Pain. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved April 19, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/spinal/backpain/back-pain-injection.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/spinal/backpain/back-pain-injection.php">Injection for Chronic Back Pain</a>: Biomaterial implant may finally bring treatment in the form of a jab for chronic back pain.

While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, it's important to note that our content is for general informational purposes only. We always recommend consulting qualified healthcare professionals for personalized medical advice. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.