PAIN Study (Pain Disorder after Stroke) - Clinical Trial
What is the Purpose of this Study?
We are doing this study to learn more about why some people develop pain syndromes after a stroke. We want to find out if certain brain areas, like the ventral posterior lateral nucleus of the thalamus and its connections, are linked to this pain.
Pain Syndrome Following a Stroke
Who Can Participate in the Study?
Adults ages 21+ who:
- Have experienced only 1 ischemic or hemmorhagic stroke that affects the thalamus (prior silent infarct or minor stroke with complete recovery is acceptable)
- Have an NIHSS sensory test scored of 1 (partial sensory loss) or 2 (complete sensory loss) at the time of consent of joining the study
- Have a pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 2 or lower
For more information, contact the study team at megan.gonzalez@duke.edu.
What is Involved?
If you choose to join the study, you will have a checkup by the study doctor and team to make sure that it is safe for you to have MRI scans.
The first study visit will happen while you are still in the hospital. At this visit, you will have an exam, do sensory tests, and answer questionnaires from the study team. At each following study visit, the study procedures will be explained to you by the study staff at the beginning of each visit. Then you will fill out several questionnaires about how you are feeling after your stroke and if you have pain.
During the first study visit, you will:
- Sign a consent form to join the study after all of your questions have been addressed
- Have an exam by the study doctor
- Have sensory testing
- Answer questionnaires about how you feel and any pain you might have
- Have transcranial magnetic stimulation - this procedure is optional, we do it to test the excitability of neurons over parts of the surface of the brain
About 30 days after your stroke, you will:
- Have sensory testing
- Answer questionnaires about how you feel and any pain you might have
- Have transcranial magnetic stimulation - this procedure is optional, we do it to test the excitability of neurons over parts of the surface of the brain
About 90 days after your stroke, you will:
- Have sensory testing
- Answer questionnaires about how you feel and any pain you might have
- Have transcranial magnetic stimulation - this procedure is optional, we do it to test the excitability of neurons over parts of the surface of the brain
Study Details
