Remote Behavioral Support to Improve Recovery After Lumbar Spine Surgery Comparing Empowered Relief and Education for Pain and Function

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a remotely delivered behavioral intervention called Empowered Relief in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. This phase II randomized controlled trial aims to determine if Empowered Relief, given early after back surgery, can improve postoperative outcomes compared to a remotely delivered education session. The study also investigates how changes in pain catastrophizing relate to recovery and whether preoperative pain catastrophizing influences treatment response. Participants will be randomly assigned before surgery to one of two groups a single remotely delivered group session of Empowered Relief, which focuses on pain neuroscience education and coping skills, or a single remotely delivered group education session about managing pain and recovery after back surgery. Both sessions are conducted online by licensed healthcare professionals. Participants will complete surveys before surgery and again at 3 and 6 months after surgery to assess outcomes such as pain interference, physical function, disability, pain intensity, and opioid use. Outcome assessments are done by evaluators who do not know the group assignments. Overall, the study will help advance research on non-drug remote strategies to improve quality of life after spine surgery in civilian and military patients.

Rehabilitation With Empowered STrategies to Optimize REcovery