Brain Mechanisms of Acupuncture Treatment in Chronic Low Back Pain

Exclusion Criteria

• •Specific causes of back pain (e.g., cancer, fractures, spinal stenosis, infections)
• •Complicated back problems (e.g., prior back surgery, medico-legal issues)
• •Possible contraindications for acupuncture (e.g., coagulation disorders, cardiac pacemakers, pregnancy, seizure disorder), and conditions that might confound treatment effects or interpretation of results (e.g., severe fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis)
• •Conditions making treatment difficult (e.g., paralysis, psychoses, or other severe psychiatric problems based on the judgment of a physician investigator and/or a T score \>60 on the psychological assessments performed during Session 1)
• •Prior acupuncture treatment for back pain; 1 year minimum for any other condition.
• •The intent to undergo surgery during the time of involvement in the study.
• •History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in the judgment of a physician investigator, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome (e.g., asthma, claustrophobia)
• •Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning (e.g., cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, fear of closed spaces, pregnancy)
• •Active substance abuse disorders within the last 24 months, based on subject self-report
• •Unresolved medical legal/disability/workers compensation claims
• •Radicular knee pain extending below the knee
• •Use of more than 60 mg morphine equivalent prescription opioids or steroids for pain.