Improving Pain Management Via Spinal Cord Stimulation and Blood Pressure Reduction

The purpose of this study (PASSION study) is to monitor symptoms of chronic pain before and after 2 weeks of a standard drug commonly used to treat elevated blood pressure compared with 2 weeks of placebo (crossover design) so that we may better understand how blood pressure affects your level of pain. This study is not testing an experimental drug.

The goal of the PASSION study is to determine the extent to which reductions in blood pressure improve pain management via SCS 1. Examine the extent to which reductions in blood pressure (2 weeks of diuretic and 2 weeks of placebo) improve pain management among patients with chronic pain and hypertension compared. 2. Examine the extent to which arterial baroreflex function, which is critical to blood pressure regulation, is impaired in patients with chronic pain and hypertension and is correlated with chronic pain symptoms.