Depolarising Electrical Skin Stimulation in Neuropathic and Postoperative Pain
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The aim of the study is to evaluate voltage gated sodium channel (NaV1.7) dependent pain phenomena in neuropathic pain and chronic postoperative pain.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Detailed Description
Sinus-like electrical stimulation may depolarize unmyelinated skin nociceptors involving NaV1.7 channels. In this case electrical stimulation may provoke pain already with very low currency intensity which normally not provoke pain in healthy subjects. This may be predictive for pain relief due to the sodium channel blocker lidocaine 5% patch.
The study will characterize pain states in peripheral neuropathic pain as well as within the painful scar in chronic postoperative pain with regard to the involvement of NaV1.7 channels.
In addition, the pain site in chronic postoperative pain (scar) will be characterized by laser-evoked potentials (LEP) and quantitative sensory testing (QST).
Pain related questionnaires will be obtained.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| chronic pain individuals suffering from chronic pain |
Diagnostic Test: neurophysiology
electrophysiologic measurements of peripheral nerves
|
| neuropathic pain individuals suffering from neuropathic pain |
Diagnostic Test: neurophysiology
electrophysiologic measurements of peripheral nerves
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- change in pain intensity [at baseline and during electric nerve stimulation]
numeric rating scale (NRS), rating from 0-10, 0=no pain, 10=maximum pain imaginable
Secondary Outcome Measures
- heat pain threshold [baseline]
Ramped stimuli (+1 degree Celsius / sec) that are terminated when the subject presses a button.
- cold pain threshold [baseline]
Ramped stimuli (-1 degree Celsius / sec) that are terminated when the subject presses a button.
- mechanical detection threshold [baseline]
Fine plastic hairs with different bending forces are applied to the skin to determine the mechanical detection threshold.
- mechanical pain threshold [baseline]
Differently weighted pinprick stimuli are applied at a rate of 2sec on and 2sec off in an ascending order until the first percept of sharpness is reached.
- mechanical pain sensitivity [baseline]
Differently weighted pinprick stimuli are applied to obtain a stimulus- response function for pinprick-evoked pain. Subjects were asked to give a pain rating for each stimulus (rating from 0-10, 0=no pain, 10=maximum pain)
- dynamic mechanical allodynia [baseline]
Different stimuli, tactile and pinprick are applied with the subject giving numerical pain ratings for each stimulus (rating from 0-10, 0=no pain, maximum pain).
- vibration detection threshold [baseline]
Tuning fork is placed over a bony prominence until the subject cannot not feel vibration any more.
- pressure pain threshold [baseline]
A pressure gauge that exerts forces of ascending stimulus intensities is applied as a slowly increasing ramp over a muscle.
- LEP latency [baseline]
latency of N2 and P2 components of laser evoked potential signal curve
- LEP amplitude [baseline]
amplitude of laser evoked potential signal curve
- stadium of pain chronification [baseline]
assessment of the stadium of pain chronification (stadium 1-3) using standardized questionnaire
- pain severity [baseline]
assessment of pain severity (grade 1-4) using the Chronic Pain Grading Questionnaire
- physical health status [baseline]
assessing the physical health status using the Short Form-12 questionnaire
- mental health status [baseline]
assessing the mental health status using the Short Form-12 questionnaire
- anxiety [baseline]
assessing anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire
- depression [baseline]
assessing Depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Group (1) patients with neuropathic pain
-
Group (2) patients with chronic postoperative pain
Exclusion Criteria (both Groups):
-
severe psychiatric disorder requiring hospitalisation in the past
-
any neurological disease other than the pain diagnosis
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centre for Pain Medicine | Nottwil | Switzerland | 6207 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Swiss Paraplegic Centre Nottwil
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- 2016-15