New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects roughly one in five adults in the U.S., lasting months or years beyond normal healing time. Current treatment typically combines physical therapy, medications like anti-inflammatories or nerve pain drugs, and sometimes procedures like nerve blocks or spinal cord stimulators. Many people with chronic pain cycle through multiple approaches to find what helps.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing non-opioid pain relievers, neuromodulation devices that alter pain signals, biologics targeting specific inflammatory pathways, and drugs that work on the brain's pain-processing centers. Researchers are also studying why some people develop chronic pain after injury while others don't, which could lead to prevention strategies.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on pain duration, intensity scores, pain location, prior treatments tried, and whether other medical conditions might explain the pain.

What types of trials are currently open

• Medication trials — Testing new pills, patches, or injections to reduce pain, often comparing them to existing treatments or placebo to measure benefit.
• Device trials — Studying implanted or wearable devices that use electrical stimulation to interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain.
• Behavioral intervention trials — Testing whether cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, or movement programs can reduce pain intensity and improve function.
• Procedure trials — Comparing different nerve block techniques, ablation procedures, or injection therapies to see which provide longer relief.
• Combination trials — Testing whether pairing medication with physical therapy, devices, or behavioral treatment works better than single approaches.