Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain

This trial aims to understand how spinal cord stimulation affects chronic pain in people with implanted devices. Participants will switch their devices on and off to observe how different settings impact their pain levels. It suits those who already have a spinal cord stimulator for back, neck, or limb pain and can manage their pain medication consistently. As a Phase 2 trial, this research focuses on measuring the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group of people.

The trial requires that participants maintain a stable dose of opioids throughout the study. If you are taking benzodiazepines, you may need to stop, except for specific ones like alprazolam, clonazepam, and lorazepam, and you must have stopped at least five half-lives ago for certain imaging parts of the study.

Research has shown that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is generally safe for people. Studies have found that these devices can safely treat chronic pain. In a worldwide study, data collected over two years revealed no major safety issues with SCS, indicating that most people did not experience serious problems over a long period.

Researchers are excited about exploring different spinal cord stimulation settings for chronic pain management. Unlike traditional pain management options that often rely on medications like opioids or non-invasive therapies, this approach directly targets the spinal cord to potentially alter pain signals. By comparing usual stimulation settings to minimal or no stimulation, researchers hope to determine the most effective way to utilize these implanted devices, possibly reducing dependency on medications and enhancing pain relief. This trial could lead to more personalized and efficient pain management strategies, offering new hope for those with chronic pain.

Research has shown that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can relieve chronic pain, particularly in the back and legs. Studies have found that SCS often outperforms medication alone for these conditions. In this trial, participants will be assigned to different groups to evaluate SCS's effectiveness. One group will have their spinal cord stimulator set to minimal or no stimulation, while another group will use their usual settings. However, some studies suggest that SCS might not be more effective than a placebo for low back pain. This means that while many people find relief, it might not work for everyone. Overall, SCS appears promising, but its effectiveness can vary depending on the type of chronic pain.²⁴⁶⁷⁸