COPD Trial, Recruiting

Written by an AI model from ClinicalTrials.gov eligibility criteria and checked on a sample basis. Please confirm against the original criteria.

Who might be able to join this trial:

• Men and women (who are not pregnant) between 20 and 65 years old who have had ongoing low back pain for at least one year
• People who have already tried non-surgical treatments following standard guidelines — including self-management, exercise, and physical therapy — without getting satisfactory relief
• People whose back-related disability scores between 30 and 60 on a standard disability questionnaire called the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at the start of the trial
• People whose back pain is worse than any leg pain they experience
• People who have degeneration (wear and tear) in one or two spinal discs in the lower back, along with at least one of the following findings on a scan: a specific bright spot on MRI called a High-Intensity Zone (HiZ), changes in the vertebrae near the disc (called Modic changes), or significant disc height loss of more than 50% compared to the disc above it

Who may not be able to join:

• People with wear and tear affecting more than two spinal discs that would need treatment across more than two levels
• People with a stress fracture in a vertebra (spondylolysis) or a type of spinal slippage caused by such a fracture (lytic spondylolisthesis)
• People with a history of infection in the spine or spinal discs (spondylodiscitis)
• People who have previously had spinal fusion surgery in the lower back
• People with a spinal curve (scoliosis) greater than 20 degrees
• People who show signs of a vertebral (spinal bone) fracture at or near the area being considered for surgery
• People who currently smoke
• People who, for reasons such as serious ongoing psychiatric illness, drug misuse, or plans to relocate away from the trial centres, may be unlikely to stick with the treatment or attend all follow-up appointments
• People with significant nerve root compression (a pinched nerve) identified by MRI scan and clinical examination
• People with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40
• People who do not understand the Norwegian language
• People with widespread muscle pain conditions, including fibromyalgia or myalgic encephalitis (ME/CFS)
• People for whom MRI scans are not safe, for example due to a cardiac pacemaker, metal implants in the eye or brain, or claustrophobia
• People with active cancer
• People with a disabling neurological condition such as Parkinson's disease, ALS, or multiple sclerosis (MS)
• People with severely disabling arthritis of the hip or knee (graded at Kellgren & Lawrence grade III or higher)
• People taking high daily doses of strong opioid painkillers (morphine equivalents of 60mg or more per day) or regularly using morphine-containing pain patches
• People who decline to be assigned to a specific treatment group within the trial

Important: Always verify eligibility with the trial site directly before applying.