Identification and Targeting of Key Biochemical Factors in Disc-Associated Low Back Pain
The goals of this work are to 1) understand the role of oxidative stress on development of chronic low back pain, and to 2) engineer targeted local pain therapeutics to alleviate opioid dependence. The majority of the population will experience low back pain in their lifetime, and many will go on to have chronicunresolved low back pain (LBP). Current conservative treatment for chronic LBP utilizes opioid prescriptions in ~30% of patients. LBP patients treated with opioids become addicted at a rate of 8-12%. An alternative approach that locally and directly address LBP could substantially decrease patient disability and reduce opioid dependence.
Learn more about Dr. Wachs' research and lab https://engineering.unl.edu/wachs/