University of Cambridge researchers have identified a gene (HCN2 gene) which is responsible for us feeling chronic back pain, as well as other chronic pain conditions such as arthritis and headaches.
Removal of the gene in mice still enabled the subjects to feel acute pain, the equivalent of say us biting our tongue, or touching a hot object. But apparently stopped any chronic pain.
The difference is important as we need to feel acute pain to protect ourselves, and avoid accidental damage, so this is exciting stuff.
Chronic lifelong pain is very common, and increasingly difficult to treat effectively, with a lack of effective medicines that don't cause their own problems.
According to Professor Peter McNaughton, head of pharmacology at Cambridge University, there is now a real hope for people suffering from lower back pain and other chronic painful conditions.
How long we shall have to wait for treatment based on this research is not mentioned, but hopefully will be available in the not too distant future for us back pain sufferers, and others.
If you want to read the whole story on the bbc.co.uk website then click here.
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