Neuropathic Pain
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to gather information on the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture (i.e., the placement of acupuncture needles in specific points on the ear) in reducing pain and improving quality of life among patients experiencing neuropathic pain in the acute inpatient rehabilitation setting.
Interventions
PROCEDUREAuricular acupuncture
Placement of acupuncture needles in specific points on the ear in two consecutive treatments spaced 7 days apart.
Sponsors
Mayo Clinic
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients who have acute or chronic neuropathic pain of any etiology (traumatic, non-traumatic, central, peripheral, and mixed cases). * Ability to provide informed consent. * Ability to speak English and complete all aspects of this trial. * At least 18 years of age. * Patients will have stable neuropathic pain medication dosing for 3 days prior to enrollment to include gabapentin, pre-gabalin, TCAs, duloxetine, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, and venlafaxine).
Exclusion criteria
* Patients with platelet count \<50,000 or known bleeding disorder. * Patients in a severe immunocompromised state. * Pregnant women. All patients who meet the criteria will have their medical records reviewed to ensure they are not pregnant. * Allergy to gold. * Use of non-FDA approved herbal supplements. Their effect on enhancing or blunting effect of acupuncture is not known. Patients using medical marijuana with an approved prescription from a state issuing such prescriptions will not be excluded. * Current infection of the skin or cartilage of the ear. * Patients already using adjuvant modalities such as chiropractic, massage, yoga, tai chi, massage will not be excluded, but those who add in these modalities during the course of the intervention and observation period will be excluded. * Patients not anticipated to stay for a minimum of 7 days after enrollment. * Patient without mental capacity to participate in the consent process and the questionnaire responses. * Fear of needles or no interest in acupuncture.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in self-reported neuropathic pain scores | Daily during inpatient stay, approximately 7-10 days | Measured on the numeric rating scale for pain (NRS Pain) for pain intensity using a scale of 0=no pain, 10=worst imaginable |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed