CompletedNot Applicable

Post-stroke Pain taVNS

United States15 participantsStarted 2024-06-04

Plain-language summary

The purpose of this study is to explore whether a non-invasive form of ear stimulation called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) can change the way participants perceive pain. Investigators will recruit up to 20 participants with chronic post-stroke upper extremity pain. The goal is to determine if there is a pain reduction after ear stimulation.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 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: * Age 18-80 * Have the capacity and ability to provide one's own consent in English and sign the informed consent document. * Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that occurred at least 6 months prior * Unilateral stroke lesions in the left hemisphere * Right upper extremity pain Exclusion Criteria: * Primary intracerebral hematoma or subarachnoid hemorrhage * Documented history of dementia * Documented history of uncontrolled depression or psychiatric disorder * Uncontrolled hypertension despite treatment, specifically SBP (Systolic Blood Pressure) / DBP (Diastolic Blood Pressure) \>=180/100mmHg * Pregnancy

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

Thermal Pain Threshold

Timeframe: assessed during and immediately after the single 30-minute taVNS session, Post 30-minute taVNS reported

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06456385

SponsorMedical University of South Carolina

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-09-26

Results submitted2025-06-27

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Stroke trials