Pain Management Tools for Spinal Cord Injury

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Disqualifiers: Congenital SCI, MS, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a peer-led program can help individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) better manage chronic pain. The program, "Solving SCI Pain: Peer-Led Pain Self-Management Pain Tools Program," educates participants on pain science and provides tools like movement and massage to empower them in pain management. It targets those with SCI who experience ongoing pain, are not currently in other pain therapies, and can maintain stable pain medication. Participants will engage in group sessions and one-on-one coaching over seven weeks to learn and apply these self-management strategies. The goal is to enhance daily life by reducing pain interference. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative pain management strategies tailored to participants' needs.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

You will need to keep your pain-related medication stable during the 10-week study period, so you won't have to stop taking them, but you can't change them either.

What prior data suggests that this self-management program is safe for individuals with spinal cord injury and chronic pain?

Research has shown that the Solving SCI Pain program is generally safe for participants. This 7-week program includes group education and one-on-one coaching, all led by individuals who have experienced similar issues. It focuses on teaching new ways to manage pain using the latest findings about the brain and behavior change.

Because this program doesn't involve medication or surgery, it avoids typical medical side effects. Instead, it provides tools like movement exercises and strategies to change perceptions of pain. These methods are easy to handle and have been used safely in similar programs.

Previous studies indicated that participants did not experience significant negative effects. Instead, they often found the program helpful in managing their pain. This suggests that the program is safe and might even improve pain management in daily life. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Solving SCI Pain" program because it offers a fresh approach to managing chronic pain for individuals with spinal cord injuries. Unlike standard treatments that often rely on medication or clinician-led therapies, this program is peer-led and emphasizes personal empowerment and relevance. It combines neuroscience education with practical, body-based tools like movement and red light therapy, all delivered virtually, which enhances accessibility and engagement. The focus on autonomy and peer support sets it apart, aiming to transform participants' pain beliefs and self-efficacy in a novel way.

What evidence suggests that this program is effective for managing chronic pain in individuals with spinal cord injury?

Research has shown that peer-led programs can help individuals with spinal cord injuries manage chronic pain effectively. This trial offers a 7-week, peer-led, neuroscience-informed pain self-management program specifically designed for individuals with SCI and chronic pain. One study found that participants in a similar program reported less interference from pain in their daily activities. This method, based on brain science, teaches skills to help individuals understand and alter their pain experience. By focusing on the brain's adaptability and behavior change, participants can learn practical pain management techniques. Past participants reported increased confidence in handling their condition and experienced an improved quality of life. This program provides an alternative to traditional medication, aiming to empower individuals through education and peer support. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kathleen A Martin Ginis, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) who experience chronic pain. It's designed to help them become active participants in managing their pain using non-clinical, neuroscience-informed strategies. To join, individuals must be able to attend educational and coaching sessions and engage with self-management tools over a 7-week period.

Inclusion Criteria

Can read, speak, and understand English, and have reliable internet access

I have a spinal cord injury causing chronic pain.

I am 18 or older and live in Canada.

Exclusion Criteria

Are currently participating in CBT or other pain-focused therapy

Are unwilling or unable to keep pain-related medication stable for the 10-week study period

I have a spinal cord injury or condition like spina bifida or MS.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in a 7-week, peer-led, neuroscience-informed pain self-management program, including group education sessions and individual coaching.

7 weeks

3 group sessions (virtual), 4 individual coaching sessions (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for longer-term outcomes and complete follow-up surveys.

3 months

2 follow-up surveys (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Solving SCI Pain: Peer-Led Pain Self-Management Pain Tools Program

Trial Overview The 'Solving SCI Pain' program being tested includes group education on brain-based pain science, individual coaching sessions, and daily use of cognitive and body-based tools like movement exercises and light therapy. The goal is to see if this peer-led program can change behaviors related to pain management and reduce the impact of pain on daily life.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Experimental Pilot Group for Solving SCI Pain Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants receive a 7-week, peer-led, neuroscience-informed pain self-management program designed for individuals with SCI and chronic pain. The program includes three 2-hour virtual group education sessions covering pain neuroscience, fear-avoidance, and optional body-based tools (e.g., movement, red light therapy, percussion massage, Graston technique). Four individualized coaching sessions (up to 1 hour each) provide tailored support. Participants engage with recommended tools between sessions and complete structured check-ins every five days. Mechanism assessments (e.g., pain beliefs, self-efficacy, emotional reactivity) are conducted during the program, with full outcome measures collected at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The intervention emphasizes autonomy, personal relevance, and peer support, distinguishing it from standard clinician-led approaches.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of British Columbia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Spinal Cord Injury Ontario

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

60+

International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries

Collaborator

Trials

9

Recruited

230+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07212725

Solving SCI Pain: Pain Recovery Tools for SCI Participants receive a 7-week, peer-led, neuroscience-informed pain self-management program designed for individuals with SCI and chronic pain.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11378682/

SCI Thrive: Impact of a peer-led online self-management ... Objective. To test the effectiveness of a peer-led online self-management program for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

3. patlynk.com patlynk.com/trial/NCT07212725

Mind/Body Self-Management Tools for Neuropathic Pain in ... This study is designed to support individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) who experience chronic neuropathic pain, ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1377218/full

a qualitative examination of how virtual peer led self ... The current study seeks to understand how individuals engaged with peers in the context of a self-management program.

5. medrxiv.org medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.06.25320049v1.full-text

Trends in self-management research in spinal cord injury They explored the impact of SM programs on outcomes like quality of life [30, 31, 44, 46, 47], healthcare utilization [43, 47], physical ...

6. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-spinal-cord-injuries-8-2025-ee2fc

Pain Management Tools for Spinal Cord Injury Solving SCI Pain intervention is a 7-week, multi-component program grounded in brain-based pain science, neuroplasticity, and behavior change ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11089173/

a qualitative examination of how virtual peer led self- ... The current study seeks to understand how individuals engaged with peers in the context of a self-management program.

8. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04059718

SCI Thrive: Efficacy of a Peer-led Online Self-Management ... The purpose of this study is to determine if an online, peer led self-management program can lead to: An improvement in of quality of life for people with ...

9. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/387212580_An_online_self-management_program_for_spinal_cord_injury_a_pilot_randomised_controlled_trial_of_the_SCIU_peer_health_coaching_intervention

An online self-management program for spinal cord injury The spinal cord injury and you (SCI&U) intervention aims to improve self-management skills for persons living with SCI using a web-based, peer health-coaching ...