Chronic low back pain: results of treatment at the Pain Therapy Center

We evaluated the outcome of 100 consecutive patients with chronic benign low back pain admitted for comprehensive interdisciplinary rehabilitation at the Pain Therapy Center. The average patient had been disabled for nearly two years and had had two unsuccessful operations for pain relief. Seventy-two percent of the patients treated had open claims against their workmen's compensation carriers. Significant improvements were demonstrated in physical strength, stamina, endurance and overall level of physical activity, drug reduction, subjective pain intensity, and return to employment.