Radiofrequency nerve heating for chronic low back pain
Official title: A Superiority Trial of Radiofrequency Ablation for Low Back Pain
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11182523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This compares a specific lumbar radiofrequency ablation approach to provide better pain relief for people with chronic low back pain linked to the facet joints.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,138,335 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AR084723-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11182523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic low back pain (≥3 months) who experience clear short-term pain relief after diagnostic medial branch blocks indicating facet-joint pain.
✕Less likely to help
People whose pain is not tied to the facet joints, who do not respond to medial branch blocks, or who have widespread/multifactorial back pain are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would be someone with chronic low back pain (lasting 3 months or more) suspected to come from your lumbar facet joints and who gets temporary relief from diagnostic medial branch nerve blocks. If eligible, you would be randomized and could receive lumbar radiofrequency ablation performed using strict Spine Intervention Society technique or a comparison/control approach, with in-person procedure visits. The team will follow your pain, function, and any side effects over time to see whether this LRFA approach produces larger, longer-lasting benefit than typical treatments. The procedure works by applying heat to small nerves to reduce pain but can cause adverse effects and is neurodestructive by design.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give larger and longer-lasting reductions in pain and disability for people whose low back pain comes from the facet joints.
How similar studies have gone: Prior randomized trials have shown mixed results—some well-selected patients treated with proper technique had large benefits, while other trials found no effect—so this trial uses strict SIS technique and selection criteria to clarify benefit.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Suri, Pradeep — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Suri, Pradeep
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.