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Collaborative research study into neuropathic pain
Potential non-drug treatment therapy
Neuropathic pain is a major problem for the majority of people with a spinal cord injury. It is caused by damage or injury to the nerves that transfer information from the skin, muscles and other parts of the body to the brain via the spinal cord.
Symptoms of neuropathic pain may include excruciating pain, pins and needles, numbness, difficulty correctly sensing temperatures.
Some people may find it hard to wear thick or heavy clothes as even slight pressure can trigger pain.
It is estimated that two thirds of people living with spinal cord injury suffer from neuropathic pain. This has an enormous impact on psychological well-being and quality of life and is directly related to mood changes, interference in daily life activities, and the way each person copes with their own pain.
For people with a spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain can be debilitating; it stubbornly resists medication and many patients continue to experience untreatable pain a long time after injury. Many of the drugs used in treatment have side-effects including dizziness and sleepiness, and some have the danger of dependency and need to be used with caution. Invasive implantation of electrical stimulators can work for pain caused by nerve root damage.
The research study
A three-year research study co-ordinated at Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research with researchers from Spain, Denmark, Glasgow, Southampton.
Despite recent advances in the understanding of how non-invasive brain modulation may control neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury, little is known of how these therapies may control highly debilitating types of pain, improve the body´s natural pain-killing system, or help people to cope with their pain. This project brings together experts from around the UK and Europe in the neurological diagnosis of neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury.
The team will assess the potential therapeutic value of modulating cognitive and emotional pain centres in the brain for controlling pain interference, whilst restoring the body’s natural pain-killing system and promoting effective pain coping strategies. Focusing on the anterior cingulate – most frequently linked to the experience of pain – and the prefrontal cortex – which is implicated in planning complex cognitive behaviour, personality expression, decision-making and moderating social behaviour – it will assess how non-invasive magnetic stimulation and EEG neurofeedback can control the part of the brain that processes pain unpleasantness.
The team expect to be able to identify prognostic measure of affective spinal cord injury neuropathic pain development as well as pinpoint those people who are at risk of not being able to cope with their pain.
I am intolerant to neuropathic pain killing medicines so this leaves me in constant pain. I am often unable to dress, manage my rehab exercises, or sleep.
