CompletedNot Applicable

Quantitative Sensory Testing in Chronic Pain Patients Undergoing Opioid Treatment and Opioid Tapering

United States43 participantsStarted 2017-12-22

Plain-language summary

Few studies have used quantitative sensory tests to study the effect of chronic opioid treatment on sensation. The investigators will test chronic pain patients who are on different MEDDs, normal volunteers, and patients undergoing an opioid taper. This will be the first study to perform sensory testing on patients while undergoing an opioid taper on an outpatient basis.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 75 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient age between 18 and 75 * History of chronic pain for at least 3 months * Patients may have been selected for opioid taper by their pain physicians. * Patients may or may not be on opioid therapy. * They must have the ability to understand the protocol and provide voluntary, written, informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Cancer pain * Unstable medical conditions (including but not limited to history of myocardial infarction within the past year, autoimmune diseases, uncontrolled diabetes with hemoglobin A1C of greater than 10) * Pregnancy * Inability to adequately answer surveys * History of substance abuse within 5 years * Surgery within the past month * Surgery planned during the next six months * Use of systemic steroids.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Heat threshold measurements

Timeframe: 2 years

Cold threshold measurements

Timeframe: 2 years

Pressure threshold measurements

Timeframe: 2 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03375216

SponsorThe University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-11-18

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Analgesic Drug Dependence trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 75 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.