NCT03233594

PET Imaging of Chronic Pain Syndromes

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 32 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Thomas Jefferson University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Central nervous system (CNS) changes associated with pain have been difficult to measure until the development of functional neuroimaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET). We have previously observed asymmetry in the thalamus associated with chronic pain that altered during acupuncture therapy. Imaging studies of therapeutic techniques for chronic pain in animals and humans have been quite limited. This study will be the first to utilize FDG PET-MRI imaging of both the brain and body in order to assess CNS changes and peripheral body changes related to chronic pain and its potential management.

Detailed description

The proposed study is based on our growing understanding of chronic pain and our ability to use functional brain imaging to study in vivo neurophysiologic processes. It is important to understand the brain and body mechanisms of chronic pain in order to better determine therapeutic interventions to reduce pain. Part of the difficulty in treating chronic pain is to determine how better to diagnose what specific issues are affecting the brain and body that result in chronic pain. Participants will undergo a small battery of diagnostic tests that include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET). A secondary goal of this study is to determine if undergoing chiropractic care alters body or brain physiology in patients with chronic pain.

Conditions

• Chronic Pain Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Chiropractic Group	Participants will receive approximately 8 weeks of chiropractic care.
OTHER	Healthy Control Group	Participants will not receive any interventions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-06-07
• Primary completion: 2026-04-01
• Completion: 2026-04-01
• First posted: 2017-07-28
• Last updated: 2025-07-25

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States