Optimizing Rehabilitation for Phantom Limb Pain Using Mirror Therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Phantom limb pain (PLP) belongs to a group of neuropathic pain syndromes that is characterized by pain in the amputated limb. Rehabilitation for chronic pain involves a structured treatment plan targeting all dimensions of the pain experience, and should include a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach that allows patients to receive the most benefit according to their needs. As in other chronic pain syndromes, chronic Phantom limb pain (PLP) is often difficult to treat; showing to be resistant to classical pharmacological and surgical treatment approaches.

In this context, we hypothesize that novel treatments of PLP need to target specific neural networks associated with this maladaptive plasticity. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS,Soterix ©) is a powerful and non-invasive technique of brain stimulation that is known to significantly modulate plasticity and alleviate chronic pain in various syndromes. device for this trial. This study usiGiven tDCS underlying neural mechanisms, it is critical to use a multimodal approach to treatment - using both tDCS and behavioral therapy simultaneously. In this case, an ideal therapy is mirror therapy (MT).

Recently, we showed that anodal tDCS can induce a selective short-lasting relief from PLP, and repeated applications of anodal tDCS induces long-lasting analgesic effects. These preliminary results show that tDCS may be a promising rehabilitative tool for the management of chronic PLP. This neurorehabilitation technique is commonly used in PLP, and is designed to modulate cortical mechanisms of pain by performing movements using the unaffected limb in front of a mirror. We propose to carry out a mechanistic, factorial, randomized controlled trial to evaluate a novel rehabilitation approach combining tDCS and MT in PLP patients. We aim to compare the brain changes before and after treatment in order to study the mechanisms underlying PLP.

Inclusion criteria

• Able to provide informed consent to participate in the study.
• Subject is older than 18 years.
• Unilateral lower limb amputation.
• Traumatic amputation greater than 1 year ago.
• Chronic PLP for at least 3 months previous to enrollment in the study, experienced regularly for at least once a week.
• Average pain of at least 4 on a numeric rating scale in the previous week (NRS; ranging from 0 to 10).
• If the subject is taking any medications, dosages must be stable for at least 2 weeks prior to the enrollment of the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy or trying to become pregnant in the next 2 months.
• History of alcohol or drug abuse within the past 6 months as self-reported.
• Presence of the following contraindication to transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation

• Ferromagnetic metal in the head (e.g., plates or pins, bullets, shrapnel)
• Implanted neck or head electronic medical devices (e.g., cochlear implants, vagus nerve stimulator)
• History of chronic pain previous to the amputation.
• Head injury resulting in loss of consciousness for at least 30 min or pos-traumatic amnesia for greater than 24 hours, as self-reported
• Unstable medical conditions (e.g. uncontrolled diabetes, uncompensated cardiac issues, heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
• Uncontrolled Epilepsy or prior seizures within the last 1 year.
• Suffering from severe depression (as defined by a score of >30 in the Beck Depression Inventory).*
• History of unexplained fainting spells or loss of consciousness as self-reported during the last 2 years.
• History of neurosurgery, as self-reported.
• Mirror Therapy in the previous 3 months