FDA Approves VR for Chronic Pain

A woman enjoys a virtual reality (VR) experience.

Tens of millions of people suffer with chronic low back pain (cLBP). I am one of them. It is a continuously present moderate to severe pain that can become unbearable or debilitating at times. You name a remedy for it, I’ve tried it. Yet still, I suffer. I also attempt to breathe, to relax, or soak up some sunshine outdoors. I just want to distract my brain from the pain, so I can savor a moment of reprieve. But sometimes, it is extremely difficult for those of us with chronic pain to shift our brain out of its endless loop on our own. VR for chronic pain may be the help many of us need to break the cycle.

EaseVRx is the first virtual reality pain management program approved by the FDA for use at home.  In a recent controlled trial, participants immersed themselves in 3D worlds several times daily for eight weeks. Users choose to empower breathing, get lost in mindful escapes or experience one of many pain-distraction methods available. VR for chronic pain shows promising results. It was later reported that majority of participants experienced a 30% reduction in pain overall, both during, as well as after the study.

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is one of the most common health problems worldwide.

VR may very well improve quality of life for patients who suffer with chronic pain. The concept behind VR for chronic pain is based on a model of CBT, or cognitive behavior therapy. CBT is a common psychotherapy tool used to help patients with mental illness or physical pain symptoms to change their underlying thought patterns. If VR can provide this neurological management for pain, it may become a viable alternative to OTC pain medications or opiods, which often lead to addiction or resistance with long-term use.

Previous and similar studies on VR for chronic pain conducted at Cedar-Sanai Medical Center also resulted in significant pain improvement. Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, who brought VR to the medical center, believes this technology will be a common tool prescribed in the future: “Virtual reality is a mind-body treatment that is based in real science. It does more than just distract the mind from pain, but also helps to block pain signals from reaching the brain, offering a drug-free supplement to traditional pain management.”

AppliedVR, the company that manufactures EaseVRx, spotlights patient success stories on its YouTube. Some users claim that VR for chronic pain changed their life.

VR technology can be experienced and enjoyed at any time.

My husband recently purchased a similar type of VR headset called Oculus. I’m not a huge tech lover but decided to give it a try after taking on this writing assignment. I put the apparatus around my head and submersed myself in a 3D world that instantly manifested itself inside our bedroom walls. I picked up imaginary things and threw them. I danced with a virtual partner. I popped bubbles that were not there. The intensely interactive and surreal stimuli coaxed my pain-filled brain to go somewhere new. I do believe it was somewhat therapeutic. But I will need to do it regularly to see if it provides any long-term benefits.