Clinical trials · California
Pain clinical trials in California
We’re tracking 177 recruiting pain studies with a site in California — including Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3 and Phase 4 studies, each written for real people, not researchers.
Recruiting studies in California
- NCT06027099RecruitingPhase 3
Testing tizanidine to help reduce opioids after surgery
This study tests whether adding a low-dose muscle relaxant (tizanidine) to your pain plan after surgery can help you safely lower your opioid use. It's for people who have been on long-term opioids and are having surgery at specific hospitals.
Stanford, CaliforniaAges 18–75 - NCT05986292RecruitingPhase 2
Study of new pain treatments for chronic pain
This study tests new treatments for people with chronic pain that has lasted at least 12 weeks. It aims to find better ways to reduce pain and improve quality of life.
San Diego, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05963607Recruiting
Weighted blanket trial to reduce chronic pain
This study tests whether using a 15-pound weighted blanket can lower pain and improve sleep for Veterans with long-lasting, non-cancer musculoskeletal pain. It may help by reducing discomfort during rest and sleep.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05612750Recruiting
Online therapy for chronic pain: CBT vs one-session relief
This study compares two online treatments for chronic pain: an 8-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program versus a single “empowered relief” session. It aims to see which approach helps people manage pain better over time.
Long Beach, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05351801RecruitingPhase 2
Test cannabis-based treatment for nerve pain
This Phase 2 study tests cannabis-derived products to see if they reduce neuropathic (nerve-related) pain in veterans. It may help people whose pain is persistent and causes significant daily impact, especially if certain exam tests show allodynia (pain from normally non-painful touch).
West Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 21 years+ - NCT04907643Recruiting
Virtual reality program to reduce stomach-cancer pain
This trial tests whether virtual reality (VR) can improve pain and other day-to-day symptoms in people with certain gastrointestinal cancers. You’d use VR for pain relief while researchers measure how you’re feeling.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18–99 - NCT04923477Recruiting
Exercise study for shoulder tendon pain and pinching
This trial studies a specific therapeutic exercise program for rotator cuff tendon pain and subacromial pain (a pinching-type shoulder problem). It also looks at what changes in your symptoms and body function after the exercises.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18–55 - NCT04556890Recruiting
Brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain
This study tests a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment, called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), to see if it can help people who have both major depression that hasn't improved with medication and chronic pain from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. It aims to reduce both depression and pain symptoms.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18–75 - NCT04142177Recruiting
Test which pain treatments work best for chronic low back pain
This study compares how well different pain treatments reduce low back pain and improve daily life. You may be asked to start or continue care through the VA and attend in-person sessions while completing pain and activity questionnaires.
Loma Linda, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06361485RecruitingPhase 1
Umbilical cord injection for chronic low back pain
This study tests whether a special injection made from umbilical cord tissue is safe and can help with long-term low back pain. It is for adults who have not had recent back procedures or certain health problems.
Beverly Hills, CaliforniaAges 20 years+ - NCT07845071RecruitingPhase 3
Cebranopadol for acute pain after surgery or injury
This study tests an investigational medication called cebranopadol to see if it safely and effectively relieves acute (short-term) pain after surgery or from a muscle or bone injury. It may offer a new option for people who need relief from moderate to severe pain.
Riverside, CaliforniaAges 18–75 - NCT06189781RecruitingPhase 4
Pain shot vs epidural for hip surgery in kids with cerebral palsy
This study compares a pain injection to epidural anesthesia for children with cerebral palsy having hip surgery. The goal is to see which method provides better pain control during and after the procedure.
Santa Monica, CaliforniaAges Up to 18 years - NCT07771205Recruiting
Aromatherapy for surgical anxiety and pain
This study tests whether breathing in relaxing scents before surgery can reduce anxiety and pain. If effective, it could offer a simple, drug-free way to help you feel calmer during your procedure.
Stockton, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07693270Recruiting
Study looking for markers of pain and opioid response after injury or surgery
This study is looking for biological markers (like blood tests) that can predict how people will respond to pain and opioids after a traumatic injury or surgery. The goal is to help doctors tailor pain treatment to each person.
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07652944Recruiting
Magnetic field therapy for chronic lower back pain
This trial tests whether magnetic fields applied to your back can relieve chronic lower back pain that has lasted at least 12 weeks. It's for people aged 18 to 64 who are willing to attend all study visits.
Edwards Air Force Base, CaliforniaAges 18–64 - NCT07605546Recruiting
Radiation Therapy for Cancer Pain Relief
This trial tests whether a focused radiation treatment called SRS (stereotactic radiosurgery) can help relieve severe cancer pain that hasn't improved with strong pain medications. You would receive a one-time radiation procedure aimed at pain-causing areas in your brain.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07507422Recruiting
Post-market study of Inceptiv spinal cord stimulation
This study follows people receiving Inceptiv, a spinal cord stimulator from Medtronic, to see how well it works over time. It is for adults with chronic back or limb pain who have not tried spinal cord stimulation before.
San Diego, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07464639Enrolling by invitation
Comparing two ways to help shoulder pain with movement feedback
This study compares using ultrasound images (dynamic visual feedback) versus manual guidance to help activate shoulder blade muscles and improve space in the shoulder joint for people with shoulder pain when lifting their arm.
Long Beach, CaliforniaAges 18–70 - NCT03877653Recruiting
Freedom-1 treatment for long-term knee pain in adults
This study tests a procedure called Freedom-1 to reduce long-term, limiting knee pain from knee arthritis. It may help if other non-surgical options didn’t work and you meet specific knee and health requirements.
Placentia, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07400146RecruitingPhase 4
Numbing medicine for pain relief in laparoscopic surgery
This trial tests if numbing medicine (bupivacaine with epinephrine) placed over the diaphragm during laparoscopic surgery can reduce shoulder and other pain. It may help patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopy recover more comfortably.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07335913RecruitingPhase 1
Testing SBS-147 in healthy adults for safety
This study tests a new drug, SBS-147, in healthy adults to see if it's safe and how the body processes it. It may help find the right dose for future studies in people with certain conditions.
Cypress, CaliforniaAges 18–55 - NCT07325513Recruiting
Brain stimulation for Gulf War-related pain
This study tests whether a type of brain stimulation (repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS) can help reduce headaches and body pain in veterans with Gulf War Illness. If you are a Gulf War veteran with ongoing moderate-to-severe pain, this trial could help find a new way to manage your symptoms.
San Diego, CaliforniaAges 18–65 - NCT07310004Recruiting
VR vs Music for Breast Biopsy Anxiety
This trial compares using a virtual reality headset versus listening to relaxing music to help lower your anxiety and pain during a breast biopsy. Both methods are non-drug ways to help you feel more comfortable during the procedure.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07301177Recruiting
Magnetic stimulation for veterans with nerve pain after injury
This study tests whether a non-invasive magnetic stimulation treatment can help veterans with long-term nerve pain after an injury or surgery. It may offer a drug-free option to reduce pain and improve quality of life.
San Diego, CaliforniaAges 18 years+
Pain trials by city in California
Where these studies are running in California
Institutions with a site for the recruiting pain studies listed above.
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · 2 studies
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center · 2 studies
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA · 2 studies
- 412 Medical Group
- Adneuris Site 001118
- AltaSciences, Inc
- Artemis Institute for Clinical Research
- Clinical Biomechanics Orthopedic and Sports Outcomes Research Laboratory
What taking part in a pain study involves
A screening visit first
Before anything else, the study team checks whether you fit — usually a visit with some tests. You can stop at any point, and screening is typically free.
Care at a nearby site
Study visits happen at a clinic or hospital taking part. Many studies cover the cost of the study treatment and related visits, and some reimburse travel.
You stay in control
Taking part is voluntary and you can leave a study at any time, for any reason, without affecting your regular care.
The team decides eligibility
Our fit check is a helpful first read, not a decision. The study team makes the final call after reviewing your health history.
Pain trials in other states
Common questions
- Are there pain clinical trials in California?
- Yes. We're currently tracking 177 recruiting pain studies with a site in California, each rewritten in plain language so you can see what it's testing and who it's for.
- How do I find out if I qualify for a pain study in California?
- Each study lists its eligibility rules — age, diagnosis, prior treatments. On every trial page we explain these in plain language and offer a short, optional pre-screen for a fit read. The study team makes the final decision.
- Do I have to live in California to take part?
- Not necessarily. These studies have a site in California, but eligibility is about your health, not your address — some people travel to take part, and a few studies reimburse travel. The study team can tell you what's required.
- Does it cost anything to join a pain trial?
- Using Clin2 is always free. Many trials cover the study treatment and related visits; some reimburse travel. The study team explains exactly what's covered before you decide.
Not the right time?
New pain studies open in California regularly. Set up a health profile and we’ll quietly watch for studies that fit you and email you when one opens.
Clin2 helps you find and understand clinical trials and does not provide medical advice. Study data comes from ClinicalTrials.gov. Talk with your doctor about whether a specific trial is right for you.