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Neuromodulation of Lidocaine Cream Effect on Chronic Pain Patients

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Chronic Low Back Pain
Interventions
Device: tDCS
Other: Lidocaine cream
Other: Control cream
Registration Number
NCT03046017
Lead Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital
Brief Summary

Chronic low back pain patients aged 21 to 60 needed for a research study of the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the analgesic effects of lidocaine cream as measured by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Study will be conducted on nine separate days not requiring an overnight stay in the hospital.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
90
Inclusion Criteria
  • Volunteers 21-60 years of age.
  • Meets the Classification Criteria of chronic LBP (having low back pain for more than 6 months), as determined by the referring physician.
  • At least 4/10 clinical pain on the 11-point LBP VAS (criteria recommended by Dworkin et al.)
  • At least a 10th grade English-reading level; English can be a second language provided that the patients understand all questions used in the assessment measures.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Specific causes of back pain (e.g., cancer, fractures, spinal stenosis, infections).
  • Complicated back problems (e.g., prior back surgery, medicolegal issues).
  • The intent to undergo surgery during the time of involvement in the study.
  • History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in the investigator's judgment, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome. For example: asthma, claustrophobia, epilepsy or acute eczema under the electrodes.
  • Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning. For example: cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy, cannot lie still in an fMRI scanner.
  • History of medical or psychiatric illness.
  • History of substance / alcohol abuse or dependence.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
real tDCSLidocaine creamIn this group, the tDCS stimulates areas of the brain being examined in this study to increase their activity.
real tDCSControl creamIn this group, the tDCS stimulates areas of the brain being examined in this study to increase their activity.
sham tDCSControl creamIn this group, sham tDCS does not provide real stimulation though participants will not know this until the debriefing at the end of the study. Sham will be used to determine if the results of this study are due to the tDCS or other reasons.
control groupControl creamIn this group, participants will receive tDCS but will only receive a cream on their lower back.
sham tDCStDCSIn this group, sham tDCS does not provide real stimulation though participants will not know this until the debriefing at the end of the study. Sham will be used to determine if the results of this study are due to the tDCS or other reasons.
real tDCStDCSIn this group, the tDCS stimulates areas of the brain being examined in this study to increase their activity.
sham tDCSLidocaine creamIn this group, sham tDCS does not provide real stimulation though participants will not know this until the debriefing at the end of the study. Sham will be used to determine if the results of this study are due to the tDCS or other reasons.
control grouptDCSIn this group, participants will receive tDCS but will only receive a cream on their lower back.
control groupLidocaine creamIn this group, participants will receive tDCS but will only receive a cream on their lower back.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
fMRI signal changes2 days; Sessions 5 and 7
Gracely Scale pain rating changes2 days; Sessions 2 and 7
resting state functional connectivity changes2 days; Sessions 5 and 7
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Martinos Center for Biomedical Imagin

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Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States

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