Active clinical trials for "Chronic Pain"

Cognitive-behavioral treatments have proven effective in helping people with chronic pain. However, due to the limited availability of trained clinicians, many young people with chronic pain problems do not benefit from them. In order to overcome the shortage of clinicians researchers have begun to develop treatment programs that could be self-administered by smartphones. Although this is a step in the right direction, it is equally true that it also encloses a problematic issue. Namely, a large number of experienced clinicians would still be needed to oversee the functioning of these programs, and it does not seem likely that they will be available within a short time, at least in certain countries. The objectives of this project are (1) to develop a web platform (iPAINs) to assist the clinician in the process of (a) creating and (b) administering cognitive-behavioral treatments for the management of chronic pain in adolescents and young adults, and (2) study the efficacy of a self-administered cognitive-behavioral treatment for young people with fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain, developed and administered through iPAINs.

The primary aim of this study is to understand how insomnia contributes to chronic pain in youth. Specifically, the investigators are interested in how insomnia and the treatment of insomnia impact emotional states and the body's ability to efficiently modulate pain, either to increase or decrease pain perception. It is hypothesized that insomnia is associated with increased negative emotional states and impaired pain modulation, which will improve after treatment of insomnia. In this project, the objectives are to 1) evaluate the role of pain modulation as a potential mechanism through which insomnia impacts pain symptoms, and 2) evaluate the role of negative affect as mediators of the impact of insomnia on pain modulation. Study participation will consist of a baseline assessment, a 5 session (once per week) virtual group cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) intervention, and a follow-up assessment. Investigators will also ask teen participants to complete the consensus sleep diary daily for 7 days prior to the baseline and follow up study visits. Assessment visits will consist of two types of assessments, questionnaires and quantitative sensory testing (QST). Participating parents and teens will complete questionnaires (both child and parent report) assessing the child's pain, sleep, and psycho-social variables. QST will assess pain inhibition via conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and pain facilitation via temporal summation (TS).

The aim of the study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of long term (14 days) wound infusion with levobupivacaine in patients with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction: this is a double blind, randomized, parallel group study. The study moves from the concept that nociceptive stimulus last further than 48 hours after surgical intervention: long term analgesia is necessary to provide a real benefit to the patient and provide central sensitization. Intralesional catheter is placed at the end of surgery. In the first 24 postoperative hours we provide continuous wound infusion with levobupivacaine 0,25% 5ml/h with morphine Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) when NRS >4. From the second postoperative day morphine PCA is removed and patients are randomized to receive levobupivacaine 0,25% or saline, released with 5 ml boluses and lock-out of 2 hours, with rescue analgesia with tramadol 37,5 mg + acetaminophen 325 mg oral fix combination (Patrol). Intralesional catheter is taken off 14 days after surgical intervention or after 36 hours of non-use. Pain evaluation (NRS at rest and movement) and oral rescue doses consumption are performed; pain physicians also care about any catheter-related or drug-related side effect, registering number of total boluses. Patients are provided with a home diary for pain scores to be filled and brought back when surgical visit is performed. A phone interview at 1 and 3 month is performed to investigate pain chronicization. Surgical evaluation is provided, also to establish any catheter-related infective or healing complication. Physiatric evaluation before the intervention and 1 and 3 months is provided to ensure rehabilitation process. A validated questionnaire (short form 36/ SF-36) must be filled by all patients, to understand differences in return to a normal quality of life and to social activities between the two groups.

The purpose of this study is to investigate if rTMS may have a positive impact on pain thresholds and cortical excitability in subjects with chronic musculoskeletal diseases of complex cranio-cervical-mandibular with myofascial component.

In the present study, the investigators intend to investigate whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be effective in reducing pain in chronic pain patients.

The purpose of the study is to measure the efficacy of varying spinal cord stimulation frequencies and pulse-width settings on chronic pain management. The spinal cord stimulator settings that are most effective in chronic pain management hope to be revealed for the purposes of this study. In this double-blind study, both the patient and the staff will not be aware of the spinal cord stimulator settings for each patient each week. The representative that will set the settings each week will be blinded to the identity of each patient and will set the spinal cord stimulator from another room. While there are few papers that show the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation in treating chronic pain, there has yet to be a study performed that measures the role of stimulation frequency and pulse-widths. This study hopes to be the first.

Prevalence of chronic pain after mastectomy is beyond 50% 3 months after surgery. This pain is related to a sensitization of the central nervous system through N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) receptors. Ketalar might prevent the occurrence of chronic pain by anti-NMDA properties after mastectomy.

Chronic pain affects more than 50 million adults in the United States and is estimated to cost the nation more than $560 billion dollars each year. Regular physical activity is widely recognized as essential for maintaining health for all individuals, but is particularly important for individuals with chronic pain (ICPs) as physical activity can prevent further deconditioning and may even improve pain outcomes. Previous literature has shown that certain categories of partner behaviors (e.g., solicitous, punishing, distracting) are associated with different health outcomes for ICPs, and recently researchers have begun examining partner behaviors through the lens of Self-Determination Theory, specifically looking at the effects of autonomy support from a spouse on physical activity among ICPs. Partner autonomy support has been positively associated with physical activity levels and better health outcomes, but no studies to date have explored what factors predict whether or not a partner will use an autonomy supportive interpersonal style (as opposed to a controlling interpersonal style) with the ICP. Similarly, more research is needed on the mechanisms by which autonomy support promotes positive outcomes for ICPs. Though receiving autonomy support has been linked to increased physical activity and improved mental health, no studies have yet tested the full Self-Determination Theory model as one possible explanation of the link between this form of partner support and desirable health outcomes. In particular, it is important to understand the ICP's perspective on how partner autonomy support influences need satisfaction and autonomous motivation as possible mediators between autonomy support and ICP physical activity. Furthermore, little research has explored other need supportive behaviors or their need frustrating counterparts. The current study will not only provide greater understanding of autonomy support, but will also expand the literature regarding these other need supportive and need thwarting behaviors. Lastly, given the value of need supportive behaviors from one's partner, it is essential to evaluate how partner perceptions of those need supportive behaviors align with ICP's perceptions of those behaviors. Any need support a partner provides is likely moderated by the ICP's perception of that support.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound combined with CT-guided sympathetic ganglion block for refractory pain caused by sympathetic neuropathy of the lower extremities.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of neurofeedback (teaching participants to gain control over their own brainwaves) in chronic pain. The study is made up of four pilot studies. Participants who take part will undergo the cold pressor test, submerging their hand in cold water in order to simulate chronic pain. Brain activity will be measured using electroencephalography (EEG).