EXPLORER Total Body PET/CT Imaging for Myofascial Pain

Eligibility Criteria

• * Ability to understand and willingness to sign an informed consent form
• * Ability to adhere to the study visit schedule and all protocol requirements.
• * Men and women ≥18 years of age
• * Current self-report of chronic low back pain (cLBP) which has persisted for the past 3 months AND has resulted in pain on \> 50% of days in the past 6 months
• * At least one palpable nodule or taut band in paraspinal, quadratus lumborum, or gluteal muscles
• * Reproduction of the patient's dominant pain with palpation of a muscle nodule or taut band
• * Predominantly paramedian pain (may be uni-lateral or bi-lateral)
• * Willing and able to lay motionless in a supine position on 2 different occasions:
• * 60-70 minutes 18F-FDG scan
• * 10-20 minutes 11C-Butanol Scan
• * Willing and able to fast for at least 6 hours before and for the duration of the scan
• * Willing to avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours before the scan visit
• * No Primary Care Physician
• * History of any cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer)
• * History of spine infection (discitis or osteomyelitis) or spine tumor
• * History of ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, psoriatic arthritis, or lupus or other connective tissue diseases.
• * Confounding conditions that are known to be responsible for inducing pain
• * Implants at or in the region of the sites of interest
• * Diagnosis of any vertebral fracture in the last 6 months
• * Cauda equina syndrome or lumbar radiculopathy with functional motor deficit (strength\<4/5 on manual motor testing)
• * Spinal implants (including fixation hardware, spinal cord stimulator, intra-thecal pumps)
• * Predominantly central pain
• * Pain below the knee
• * Positive straight leg raise test
• * Symptomatic hip arthritis
• * Fasting blood glucose level greater than 200 mg/dl before administration of 18F-FDG
• * Self-reported history of dysphoria or anxiety in closed spaces
• * Pregnant or lactating subjects
• * Body weight more than 240 kg (529 pounds) due to the weight limitation of the scanner bed
• * Prisoners
• * Inability to speak, read, and write in the English language
• * Concurrent or prior enrollment in a separate research study involving a PET scan performed within the last 12 months for research purposes only
• * Any other criteria, which would make the subject unsuitable to participate in this study as determined by the Principal Investigator (e.g., subject has a Legally Authorized Representative and cannot consent for him/herself)