Compositions Comprising Rank/Rankl Antagonists and Related Compounds for Treating Pain

1 . A method of treating pain comprising orally administering zoledronic acid to relieve inflammatory pain in a human being in need thereof, wherein the inflammatory pain is located in the low back or in a joint, wherein the human being receives about 80 mg to about 600 mg of zoledronic acid within a period of two months, wherein zoledronic acid is administered as 3 to 8 divided doses that are administered no more often than once a week, wherein the human being experiences pain relief that lasts for a duration of at least 48 hours.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering a second therapeutic agent indicated for the treatment of pain or another neurological disorder.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the human being does not have cancer.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inflammatory pain is arthritis pain.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inflammatory pain is associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered weekly.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dose is administered to the human being after at least one hour of fasting.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the human being receives about 40 mg to about 300 mg of zoledronic acid per month.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered weekly for 4 to 8 consecutive weeks.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered weekly for 6 consecutive weeks.

11 . A method of treating pain comprising orally administering zoledronic acid to relieve inflammatory pain in a human being in need thereof, wherein the inflammatory pain is located in the low back or in a joint, wherein the human being receives about 100 mg to about 600 mg of zoledronic acid within a period of three months, wherein the zoledronic acid is administered no more often than weekly, and wherein the human being experiences pain relief that lasts for a duration of at least 48 hours.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered in divided doses.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the zoledronic acid is divided into two or three doses.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered in two doses.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered in three doses.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein about 100 mg to about 200 mg of zoledronic acid is administered per dose.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein at least about 150 mg of zoledronic acid is administered at least twice a month.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein three divided doses of totaling at least 450 mg of zoledronic acid is administered within a period of two months.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein three divided doses of about 150 mg to about 180 mg each of zoledronic acid are administered within a period of two months.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein about 200 mg to about 300 mg of zoledronic acid is administered once.

21 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the inflammatory pain is associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

22 . A method of treating pain comprising orally administering zoledronic acid to relieve inflammatory pain in a human being in need thereof, wherein the inflammatory pain is located in the low back or in a joint, wherein the human being receives about 10 mg to about 300 mg of zoledronic acid within a period of two months, wherein zoledronic acid is administered no more often than once a week, and wherein the human being experiences pain relief that lasts for a duration of at least 48 hours.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the inflammatory pain is arthritis pain.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the inflammatory pain is associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.

25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the inflammatory pain is associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

26 . The method of claim 22 , wherein about 10 to about 30 mg of zoledronic acid is administered every week.

27 . The method of claim 22 , wherein zoledronic acid is administered weekly for at least four weeks.

28 . The method of claim 22 , wherein zoledronic acid is administered for a period between about four weeks to about eight weeks.

29 . The method of claim 22 , wherein about 60 to about 200 mg of zoledronic acid is administered over a period of four to eight weeks.

30 . The method of claim 22 , wherein about 10 mg to about 30 mg of zoledronic acid is administered once a week for at least four weeks.