Chronic back pain may have met its match with hormone treatment, scientists say

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A hormone traditionally used to treat bone loss may hold the key to stoppingchronic back painat its source, according to a new study.

Chronic back pain is often linked to the deterioration of spinal discs and vertebral end plates, which are the thin layers of tissue separating the discs from the vertebrae, according to medical sources.

When these break down, they become porous, allowing nerves that aren’t usually impacted to enter the spinal center, leading to frequent discomfort.

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Research led by Dr.Janet L.Crane at Johns Hopkins University found the parathyroid hormone (PTH) could prevent and even reverse the growth of pain-sensing nerves into damaged areas of the spine.

Parathyroid glandsnaturally produce PTH, which experts say plays a key role in regulating calcium levels and bone remodeling.

An older Caucasian male doctor examining a middle-aged African-American female patient in a doctor

Research suggests a parathyroid hormone can prevent the growth of pain-sensing nerves into damaged areas of the spine.(iStock)

These findings could shift the focus ofback pain treatmentfrom managing symptoms to modifying the underlying issue, according to scientists.

“During spinal degeneration, pain-sensing nerves grow into regions where they normally do not exist.Our findings show that parathyroid hormone can reverse this process by activating natural signals that push these nerves away,” Crane said in a press release.

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Synthetic versions of PTH are already used to treat osteoporosis.Earlier research hinted that these treatments might also reduce bone-related pain, but the underlyingbiological mechanismwas not well understood.

These findings could shift the focus of back pain treatment from managing symptoms to modifying the underlying issue, according to scientists.(iStock)

The study found that this protein repels growing nerve fibers, preventing them from infiltrating sensitive regions of the spine.

When the researchers removed Slit3 from mice, the hormone’s pain-relieving effects disappeared, confirming the protein’s critical role in the process.

already approvedby the Food and Drug Administration to treat osteoporosis.Some patients receiving the hormone for bone density have reported unexpected relief from back pain, a phenomenon this study could help explain.

Senior man pointing to his lower back while sitting in a doctor

This study lays a foundation for future clinical trials to explore the efficacy of PTH as a disease-modifying and pain-relieving treatment for spinal degeneration, the researchers say.(iStock)

“Our study suggests that PTH treatment of [lower back pain] during spinal degeneration may reduce aberrant innervation (abnormal nerve growth),” Crane concluded.

The doctor said this research lays the foundation for future clinical trials that will explore PTH’s effectiveness as a disease-modifying andpain-relieving treatmentfor spinal degeneration.

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Researchers noted several limitations, including the possibility that PTH treatment could affect thecentral nervous systemin ways not fully explored in this study.

Because the study focused specifically on the Slit3 protein, further research is needed to determine how other genetic factors and bone-forming processes might influence spinal nerve growth and pain relief.

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The study was published in the journal Bone Research.

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