Development and Feasibility of Mindfulness Based Pain Reduction

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Unable to provide informed consent.
• •2. A substance abuse, mental health, or medical condition that, in the opinion of investigators, will make it difficult for the potential participant to participate or that may need immediate changes in medical management that will affect study outcome measures. Such conditions may include cancer, liver failure, renal failure, pain conditions from inflammatory diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus), malignancies or abdominal aortic aneurysm, muscle weakness from radiculopathy. Radiculopathy or sciatic pain is NOT excluded as long as the condition is stable and does not lead to significant movement restrictions or \<4/5 muscle weakness. Persons with significant substance abuse or mental health conditions that interfere with social functioning may be disruptive. Other medical or mental health conditions that need immediate changes in management need to be addressed before starting the study so that more reliable baseline measurements can be made. Patients who may need assessment for potentially necessary surgical interventions may not be able to complete the study. Regular opioid prescription is not an exclusion if stable over the past 3 months.
• •3. Spine related current or history of spine infection, spine tumor, vertebral fracture, cauda equina syndrome. Condition would increase heterogeneity of the sample.
• •4. Blindness, severe vision problems, deafness, severe hearing problems, bipolar or manic depression and not taking medication, major depression, psychoses (major), a substance abuse condition, dementia, unable to get up and down from the floor. Condition might make it difficult to participate.
• •5. Some other serious medical conditions that may alter key study outcomes, including untreated hypothyroidism, renal failure, and cirrhosis. Conditions that may alter key study outcomes.
• •6. Involvement in a lawsuit related to their back. Complicated medico-legal issues that could lead to individuals having a financial incentive to not report improvement.
• •7. Involved in Worker's Compensation claim.
• •8. Pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant in the next 12 months or less than 3 months post-partum. Particular back problems than may be associated with pregnancy and delivery may confound study outcomes.
• •9. Lack of stable housing or plan to move out of the area within the next 6 months.
• •11. Received a steroid or botox injection in or near the spine in the last 3 months. This may alter key study outcomes.