tACS for Neuropathic Pain Management After SCI

Inclusion/exclusion criteria for SCI subjects

Inclusion criteria

A patient who

• has neuropathic pain after traumatic spinal cord injury or amputation or brain injury;
• has chronic pain, >3 months;
• is between 18 to 75 years of age;
• is stable on oral pain medications at least two weeks. Patients are allowed to continue their pain medications, i.e., no change in pain medications.

NOTE: we plan to begin the study with the spinal cord injury (SCI) subject population as a cohort first, then expand to other subject populations

Exclusion criteria

Patients will be excluded if they

• are currently adjusting oral pain medications for their neuropathic pain;
• have pain, but not neuropathic, e.g., from inflammation at the incision wound of the residual limb or neuroma;
• have a pacemaker metal implants or supplemental oxygen;
• have amputation in their arm(s);
• fail to have a motor contraction in the arm muscles with TMS;
• are not able to follow commands, or to give consent;
• have asthma or other pulmonary disease;
• are not medically stable;
• have preexisting psychiatric disorders;
• alcohol or drug abuse.