Use of IκB-kinase inhibitors in pain therapy

1. A method for treating pain of an inflammatory etiology in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the patient a pharmaceutically effective amount of an IκB-kinase inhibitor of a compound of formula Ia:

or a stereoisomeric form thereof or a mixture of stereoisomeric forms in any ratio, or a physiologically tolerated salt thereof, wherein,

E is N or CH;

M is N or CH;

R21 is a group selected from hydrogen atom, F, Cl, I, and Br;

R31 is a hydrogen atom;

R22 is a heteroaryl radical selected from:

5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-[1,3,4]oxadiazole;

triazole;

—C(O)—OR 15 , wherein R 15 is hydrogen atom or —(C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl; and

—C(O)—N(R 17 )—R 18 , wherein R 17 and R 18 are, independently of each other, selected from hydrogen atom, —(C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl-OH, —O—(C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl, and —(C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl;

R23 is a hydrogen atom or —(C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl; and

R24 is a heteroaryl radical selected from thiazole, pyridine, and pyrimidine, wherein the heteroaryl radical is unsubstituted, or substituted, one, two or three times, independently of each other, by groups selected from F, Cl, Br, I, —(C 1 -C 5 )-alkyl, and trifluoromethyl; or

R24 is a phenyl radical, wherein the phenyl radical is unsubstituted, or substituted, one, two or three times, independently of each other, by groups selected from F, Cl, Br, I, —(C 1 -C 5 )-alkyl, and trifluoromethyl.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the pain is chronic pain.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the chronic pain is selected from: pain associated with chronic musculoskeletal diseases, pain associated with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, pain associated with intestinal inflammation, pain associated with cardiac muscle inflammation, pain associated with multiple sclerosis, and pain associated with neuritis.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the chronic pain is associated with chronic musculoskeletal diseases, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis.