The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if adaptative transcutaneous magnetic stimulation (AtMS) works to reduce pain caused by post-traumatic peripheral neuropathic pain (PTP-NP) within Veterans and/or active duty military personnel. It will also learn about the safety of AtMS. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What are the effects of adaptative tMS (AtMS) in alleviating patients' PTP-NP compared to fixed tMS (FtMS) and Sham-tMS? 2. What are the effects of AtMS in improving functions in patients suffering from PTP-NP compared to FtMS and Sham-tMS? 3. What are the effects of AtMS in improving mood in patients suffering from PTP NP compared FtMS and Sham-tMS? Researchers will compare AtMS, FtMS and Sham-tMS to see if AtMS is the best form of tMS in treating PTP-NP. Participants will undergo the following: 1. Receive a total of 8 AtMS, FtMS, or Sham-tMS treatments over 16 weeks. 2. Visit the clinic a total of 12 times for assessments, check ups, and treatments. 3. Keep a daily diary of their PTP-NP intensity, sleep interference, and pain medications used.
This study will be enrolling a total of 144 veterans or active military over a 4 year period at the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). Participants will be randomized into one of three groups: Group A: AtMS Group B: FtMS Group C: Sham-tMS Individual participation will consist of 12 visits to the VASDHS over the course of 5 months. The visits will be divided into the following phases: 1. PRE-TREATMENT ASSESSMENTS PHASE (weeks 1-2) which consists of Visit 1 (Screening Visit) and Visit 2 (Baseline Assessments) 2. INDUCTION TREATMENT PHASE (weeks 3-4) consists of Visits 3-7 (5 weekday tMS sessions at \>24 and \<72 hours apart); and 3. POST-TREATMENT ASSESSMENTS AND MAINTENANCE TREATMENT PHASE (weeks 6-20) consists of 2 initial biweekly post-induction treatment assessments and maintenance treatments (Visits 8 and 9), and two additional monthly post-induction treatment assessments and maintenance treatments (Visits 10 and 11) and one final study visit (Visit 12)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
180
Active tMS will be given at different PTP-NP sites with an active tMS coil.
Sham-tMS will be given at different PTP-NP sites with a sham tMS coil. All parameters of the treatment will appear identical to the active treatment.
The PMI will be used to help determine intensities for tMS treatments.
Veterans Medical Center - San Diego
San Diego, California, United States
RECRUITINGNeuropathic Pain Rating
0 is equivalent to no neuropathic pain and 10 indicates the worst possible neuropathic pain
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
Mood
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) an interviewed asks 21 questions about mood, sleep, appetite, and other symptoms related to depression. The interviewer rates the severity of each symptom based on a pre-defined scale of 0-4. The scores for each item are then summed to produce a total score. The total score on the HAM-D is used to assess the severity of depression. Lower scores indicate less severe depression, while higher scores indicate more severe depression. Typical scoring interpretations: Below 7: Absence or remission of depression; 7-17: Mild depression; 18-24: Moderate depression; 25 and above: Severe depression
Time frame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
Quality of Life (Sleep Interference)
Daily Sleep Interference Log measures how much neuropathic pain impacts the patients sleep each night. The log is ranked on a 0 to 10 scale, 0 being pain didn't interfere with sleep and 10 being pain completely interfered with sleep, with a lower score representing a better outcome.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
Functionality - Absenteeism
Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI-SHP version 2) metric 1: Absenteeism (the percentage of work time missed); \*\*\*Only those being employed provided answer for absenteeism\*\*\* WPAI absenteeism scores are based 2-items (2 and 4); a score cannot be calculated if there is a missing response to the corresponding item. Question 2 represents time in hours lost due to health reasons while question 4 represents the time spent working. Time lost is divided by the total time (sum of 2 and 4) and then multiplied by 100 to express as a percentage. All WPAI outcomes are expressed as impairment percentages, with higher numbers indicating greater impairment and less productivity
Time frame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
Functionality - Presenteeism
Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI-SHP version 2) metric 2: Presenteeism (the percentage of impairment experienced while at work); \*\*\*Only those being employed provided answer for presenteeism\*\*\* WPAI presenteeism scores are based on 1-item (5) which is divided by 10 and later multiplied by 100 to express as a percentage; a score cannot be calculated if there is a missing response to the corresponding item. WPAI outcomes are expressed as impairment percentages, with higher numbers indicating greater impairment and less productivity
Time frame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
Functionality - Overall work Productivity Impairment
Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI-SHP version 2) metric 3: Overall work productivity loss (an estimate of combination of absenteeism and presenteeism); \*\*\*Only those being employed provided answer for absenteeism {Q2/(Q2+Q4)}, presenteeism {Q5/10}\*\*\* WPAI overall work productivity scores are computed based on absenteeism and presenteeism scores, using the following formula, Q2/(Q2+Q4)+\[(1-(Q2/(Q2+Q4)))x(Q5/10)\], and then being multiplied by 100 to express as a percentage; a score cannot be calculated if there is a missing response to the corresponding item. WPAI outcomes are expressed as impairment percentages, with higher numbers indicating greater impairment and less productivity
Time frame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
Functionality - Activity Impairment
Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI-SHP version 2) metric 4: Activity impairment (the percentage of impairment in daily activities) \*\*\*Only those being employed provided answer for absenteeism, presenteeism, and overall work impairment\*\*\* WPAI activity impairment scores are based on 1-item (item 6) which is divided by 10 and later multiplied by 100 to express as a percentage; a score cannot be calculated if there is a missing response to the corresponding item. WPAI outcomes are expressed as impairment percentages, with higher numbers indicating greater impairment and less productivity
Time frame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
Neuropathic Pain Medication Usage
Neuropathic Pain Medication Logs will measure changes in daily neuropathic pain. The log will record if daily neuropathic pain medications are used, the medication name(s), the strength(s) measured in mg, quantity measured by number of pills/sprays/etc. As well as if additional non-daily, typically OTC, pain medications were taken for neuropathy, the medication name(s), strength(s) measured in mg, quantity measured by number of pills/spray/etc. For this outcome, increases in any medication as well as new medications will be marked as "more" and numerically described with 1; decreases will be marked as "less" and numerically described as -1; no change will result in a 0. Total change will be summed per visit and later used as a percentage of participants positive (representing an increase in medication us) or negative (decrease in medication use) change. Any negative score will be considered a favorable outcome.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
Allodynia Area Mapping (Von Frey)
von Frey 5.18 monofilament will be used to measure/map (cm²) out an area of neuropathic allodynia. The instrument will be used by pressing them against the neuropathic pain area and marking roughly 8 points with each. Then the points will be traced on two separate translucent papers, one for each instrument, to create two rough shapes to measure the areas. The area of the shape will be measured using a Compensating Polar Planimeter.
Time frame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
Allodynia Area Mapping (paint brush)
Paintbrush will be used to measure/map (cm²) out an area of neuropathic allodynia. The instrument will be used by pressing them against the neuropathic pain area and marking roughly 8 points with each. Then the points will be traced on two separate translucent papers, one for each instrument, to create two rough shapes to measure the areas. The area of the shapes will be measured using a Compensating Polar Planimeter.
Time frame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 20 weeks
QST Temperature Thresholds
Thermal Sensory Analyzer (Medoc Advanced Medical Systems, Minneapolis) will be used to measure cool, warm, cold, and hot temperature (°C) thresholds. The participant will first be asked to press the button when the increasing hot temperature becomes uncomfortable. This will be done 3 times and averaged to establish a threshold for the next portion. The thermode will heat up to the threshold temperature and remain their for a period of time. The participant will then rate their pain experienced via MVAS scale (0-10) with a 0 describing no pain and a 10 describing the worst pain experienced. A lower pain score will represent a better outcome and a higher score will represent a worse outcome.
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Time frame: From baseline to end of treatment at 20 weeks
von Frey Monofilament Threshold
Different sized von Frey monofilament (e.g, 5.18) will be used to determine the participants physical pain sensation threshold to the von Frey monofilaments. The von Frey monofilaments will pressed against the neuropathic pain area one by one from smallest to largest until the participants expresses they can feel a sensation of physical pain in the neuropathic area caused by the von Frey monofilament.
Time frame: From baseline to end of the treatment at 20 weeks