Clinical Trial: tDCS and VI to Treat Neuropathic Pain and Function in SCI

Study Status: Not yet recruiting
Recruit Status: Not yet recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: tDCS Stimulation Combined With VI as a Possible Therapy for Enhancing Functional Ability in SCI With Neuropathic Pain

Brief Summary: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) will be applied for patient who suffer from neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury The tDCS treatment will be coupled with a video of a man walking (creating a visual illusion) in order to enhance functional ability and reduce pain

Detailed Summary:

Non-invasive cortical brain stimulation is a promising method for treating cases of neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) appears to modulate cortical excitability and can reduce pain levels following SCI, however its effects remaining for short-term and may not be useful for the rehabilitation progress in these patients.

Recent findings suggest that M1 stimulation combined with visual illusion (VI) enhances the reduction in pain which maintain up to 3 month following treatment. The current study aims to reveal whether reduction of neuropathic pain in patients with SCI through tDCS have beneficial effect on functional ability during rehabilitation program.

In the present study the investigators will use anodal stimulation of the M1 via neuroConn DC stimulator. Current intensity of 2mA or sham stimulation will be given during 20 min in parallel to a visual illusion of walking legs (or neutral video for sham stimuli).


Sponsor: Loewenstein Hospital

Current Primary Outcome: change in SCIM 3 (scale) [ Time Frame: up to 7 day before and following the treatment ]

spinal cord independence measure


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • change in VAS (Visual Analog Scale) [ Time Frame: up to 7 day before and following the treatment ]
    reported subjective pain scale
  • change in BPI (Brief Pain Inventory) [ Time Frame: up to 24h before and following the treatment ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Loewenstein Hospital

Dates:
Date Received: January 29, 2017
Date Started: March 15, 2017
Date Completion: March 15, 2020
Last Updated: February 9, 2017
Last Verified: February 2017