Placebo In Chronic Back Pain - Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial

Inclusion Criteria: * History of low back pain for a minimum of 6 months with signs and symptoms of radiculopathy: positive straight leg raising test with dermatomal radiation and/or myotomal weakness and/or reflex asymmetry; pain must radiate into buttock or below. * Male or female, age greater than18 years, with no racial/ethnic restrictions. * Must have a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score \>50 mm (of 100 mm maximum) at the baseline visit (for which 0mm = no pain, and 100 mm = worst pain imaginable). * Must be able to read and speak English and be willing to read and understand instructions as well as questionnaires. * Must be in generally stable health. * Must sign an informed consent document after a complete explanation of the study documenting that they understand the purpose of the study, procedures to be undertaken, possible benefits, potential risks, and are willing to participate. Exclusion Criteria: * Low back pain associated with any systemic signs or symptoms, e.g., fever, chills. * Evidence of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute vertebral fractures, fibromyalgia, history of tumor in the back. * Other comorbid chronic pain or neurological conditions. * Involvement in litigation regarding their back pain or having a disability claim or receiving workman's compensation or seeking either as a result of their low back pain. * Diagnosis of current depression or psychiatric disorder requiring treatment, or such a diagnosis in the previous 6 months. * Beck Depression Inventory II score of \>28. * Use of therapeutic doses of antidepressant medications (i.e., tricyclic depressants, SSRIs, SNRIs; low doses used for sleep may be allowed). * Significant other medical disease such as unstable diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, coronary or peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, or malignancy. * History of gastrointestinal ulcer during the past year. * History of myocardial infarction in the past year. * Uncontrolled hypertension. * Renal insufficiency. * Allergic to, or non-tolerant of, NSAIDs. * History of aspirin-sensitive asthma. * Regular use of low dose aspirin. * Current use of recreational drugs or history of alcohol or drug abuse. * Any change in medication for back pain in the last 30 days. * High dose opioid prophylaxis, as defined as \> 50mg morphine equivalent/day. * Any medical condition that in the investigator's judgment may prevent the individual from completing the study or put the indivi…