Uncovering the Mechanism of Pain Relief by Peripheral Transcutaneous Magnetic Stimulation
Florida International University
Summary
This research aims to uncover the Mechanisms of pain relief through the FDA-cleared peripheral transcutaneous magnetic stimulation (pTMS) device by MagVenture. 50 people with chronic pain (post-surgical or post-traumatic) will be identified and recruited. The eligibility for participation in the study will be evaluated by a series of pain and mental health questionnaires followed by quantitative sensory testing (QST) to assess response to noxious heat, cold, and pressure stimuli. Blood will be drawn to isolate plasma, serum, and leukocytes. Participants will then undergo pTMS at the site of pain for four consecutive days. At the end of the therapy, pain testing will be done again, followed by blood withdrawal to assess the changes in plasma and leukocyte levels of mediators of pain. It is anticipated that pTMS will increase mediators of pain relief and reduce inflammatory mediators. Risks: It is possible that a few participants may not respond to pTMS therapy. However, plasma analysis of mediators of pain may help stratify these participants into responders vs. non-responders. Risks associated with the study are minimal and mainly involve discomfort associated with pain testing. The importance of knowledge gained includes understanding pain relief mechanisms by medical devices such as pTMS, which will result in better pain management.
Description
Chronic pain (pain lasting ≥3 months) is a debilitating condition associated with depression, dementia, increased risk of suicide, decreased productivity, and substance abuse. Opioids continue to be a crucial part of pain management. However, the misuse of prescription opioids has led to a shift towards injectable opioids such as heroin, with nearly 80% of new heroin users reporting prior use of prescription opioids. Further, co-morbid substance abuse can exacerbate pain symptoms despite pharmaceutical treatment, revealing the limitations of current pain management strategies. Due to tolerance…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 19–80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Confirmed diagnosis of chronic peripheral pain secondary to trauma or surgery. Age 19 - 80; the lower end of this age range was chosen to capture young adults with pain, and participants over 80 years are increasingly likely to meet one or more exclusion criteria. Currently receiving pain medication Chronic pain must self-report peripheral pain, more than once per week, for at least three consecutive months Exclusion Criteria: * Implanted Electronic Devices and / or Conductive Objects in or near the head: Patients who have an implanted device that is activated or cont…
Interventions
- DevicePeripheral Transcutaneous Magnetic Stimulation from MagVenture
MagVenture Pain Therapy System: It is an FDA-cleared magnetic stimulator system that provides brief and focused magnetic pulses to non-invasively stimulate peripheral nerves and provide relief of chronic intractable, post-traumatic, and post-surgical pain for patients 18 years or older. It is a relatively new technique in the US for pain relief in the clinical setting and thus not very widespread yet. Evidence shows Magnetic Peripheral Nerve Stimulation to have a promising average pain relief of up to 87%\*. Using magnetic pulses, MagVenture Pain Therapy engages sensory, pain, and motor fibers mechanistically to recondition the central nervous system by eliminating noxious pain signals to the brain, reducing chronic neuropathic pain for responsive patients. \*Bedder M, Parker L.: Magnetic Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (mPNS) for Chronic Pain, 2023
Location
- Ambulatory Care Center, Florida International UniversityMiami, Florida