In a study that appeared in Surgical Neurology (2006; 65(4): 326-31), 250 patients with neck or back pain (deemed as nonsurgical by a physician) were supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil) at a dose of 2,400 mg/day. All of the subjects were taking pain medication at the start of the study. After two weeks, the dose was cut in half.
After 75 days of supplementation, half of the subjects were given questionnaires to assess their pain. Taking fish oil supplements improves pain. Nearly 60% of the subjects discontinued taking pain medication and 80% were satisfied with the improvement of their symptoms while taking the fish oil.