NIH Research Points to New Treatment Options for People Living With Chronic Pain

The September 2026 issue of NIH News in Health highlights new research into chronic pain treatment, including non-opioid approaches and lifestyle interventions that have shown results in clinical studies.

Chronic pain affects an estimated 50 million adults in the United States, making it one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. For years, opioid medications were the primary treatment option for many patients, but concerns about addiction and side effects have pushed researchers to look for alternatives.

Recent studies have examined a range of approaches, including physical therapy protocols, cognitive behavioral therapy, and targeted nerve treatments. Some research has also looked at the role of inflammation in chronic pain and whether anti-inflammatory diets or supplements can reduce symptoms.

One area drawing attention is the use of neuromodulation, which involves using electrical or magnetic signals to alter pain signals in the nervous system. Devices that deliver these signals have become more sophisticated and are now being tested in larger clinical trials.

Researchers have also found that combining treatments often works better than any single approach. A patient who pairs physical therapy with cognitive behavioral therapy, for example, may see better results than one who uses either method alone.

The NIH has increased funding for pain research in recent years, partly in response to the opioid crisis. Scientists are working to better understand why some people develop chronic pain after an injury while others do not, and what biological factors make certain individuals more vulnerable.

For patients, the message from researchers is that chronic pain is not something they simply have to accept. New options are becoming available, and working with a pain specialist to find the right combination of treatments can make a real difference.