14 Participants Needed

tACS for Neuropathic Pain After SCI

SL
Shengai Li, MD, PhD profile photo
Overseen ByShengai Li, MD, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Must be taking: Pain medications
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The overall goal is to investigate the effectiveness of a novel intervention - transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for neuropathic pain management in people after spinal cord injury.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

No, you can continue taking your current pain medications as long as they have been stable for at least two weeks before joining the trial.

Is tACS safe for humans?

The research articles provided do not contain specific safety data for tACS (transcranial alternating current stimulation) in humans. However, they discuss tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation), a similar non-invasive brain stimulation technique, which is considered to have a lower risk of complications compared to invasive methods.12345

How does tACS treatment for neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury differ from other treatments?

tACS (transcranial alternating current stimulation) is unique because it uses electrical currents applied to the scalp to modulate brain activity, which is different from traditional drug treatments. This non-invasive approach aims to relieve pain by targeting the brain's motor cortex, offering a potential alternative for those who do not respond well to medications.12567

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment tACS for neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury?

While there is no direct evidence for tACS, similar treatments like transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have shown mixed results in reducing neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. Some studies suggest tDCS can be promising, especially with repeated sessions, but others found it ineffective, particularly in patients with long-standing injuries.12568

Who Is on the Research Team?

Sheng Li, MD, PhD | McGovern Medical School

Sheng Li, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals aged 18-75 who have neuropathic pain following a traumatic spinal cord injury, amputation, or brain injury and have been stable on oral pain medications for at least two weeks. It's not suitable for those with pacemakers, metal implants, unstable medical conditions, non-neuropathic pain like inflammation from surgery wounds, arm amputations, psychiatric disorders currently adjusting their pain meds or with substance abuse issues.

Inclusion Criteria

I have nerve pain from a spinal cord injury, amputation, or brain injury.
I have been on a stable dose of oral pain medication for at least two weeks.
I have been experiencing pain for more than 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria

You do not show any movement in your arm muscles when tested with TMS.
I have asthma or another lung condition.
Patient is not medically stable
See 7 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for neuropathic pain management, including sham, 10Hz, and 20Hz interventions

6-8 weeks
Multiple sessions with each session lasting 20-40 minutes

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • tACS 10Hz
  • tACS 20Hz
  • tACS Sham
Trial Overview The study tests the effectiveness of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in managing neuropathic pain after spinal cord injuries. Participants will receive either a sham (fake) treatment or real tACS at different frequencies (10Hz or 20Hz) to see if there's an improvement in their pain levels.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: "tACS Sham, tACS 10Hz, tACS 20Hz" experimental orderExperimental Treatment3 Interventions
Group II: "HD-tACS 20Hz, HD-tACS 10Hz, HD-tACS Sham" experimental orderExperimental Treatment3 Interventions
Group III: "HD-tACS 10Hz, HD-tACS 20Hz, HD-tACS Sham" experimental orderExperimental Treatment3 Interventions

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Lead Sponsor

Trials
974
Recruited
361,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 138 patients with chronic neuropathic pain, 74.7% experienced over 50% pain reduction after trialing spinal cord stimulation (SCS), leading to permanent implantation for most of them.
One year after implantation, 84.4% of patients maintained significant pain relief, and many reported improved daily functioning and reduced reliance on opiate analgesics, highlighting SCS as an effective treatment option in a multidisciplinary pain management setting.
Spinal cord stimulation: a seven-year audit.Sundaraj, SR., Johnstone, C., Noore, F., et al.[2005]

Citations

Delayed pain decrease following M1 tDCS in spinal cord injury: A randomized controlled clinical trial. [2018]
Longstanding neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury is refractory to transcranial direct current stimulation: a randomized controlled trial. [2022]
Effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation for the management of neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis. [2022]
1-kHz high-frequency spinal cord stimulation alleviates chronic refractory pain after spinal cord injury: a case report. [2021]
Transcranial direct current stimulation regulates phenotypic transformation of microglia to relieve neuropathic pain induced by spinal cord injury. [2023]
Transcranial direct current stimulation for spinal cord injury-associated neuropathic pain. [2021]
Spinal cord stimulation: a seven-year audit. [2005]
Better Fields or Currents? A Head-to-Head Comparison of Transcranial Magnetic (rTMS) Versus Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Neuropathic Pain. [2023]
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