Spinal cord stimulation and nerve recovery for painful diabetic neuropathy
Functional and histological changes to peripheral innervation following spinal cord stimulation in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy
People with painful diabetic nerve damage will receive spinal cord stimulation or usual care so researchers can learn whether spinal stimulation helps nerves heal and eases pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161635 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed for 18 months in one of three groups: usual medical care, spinal cord stimulation turned on right away, or spinal cord stimulation turned on after three months. Each group will include about 15 people and the team will collect pain questionnaires, nerve function tests, small skin or nerve biopsies, and other health measures at several visits. The delayed-activation group helps separate effects of the surgery from the electrical stimulation itself. The researchers want to see whether turning on the spinal stimulator is linked with improved small nerve fibers and reduced pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy who are eligible for spinal cord stimulation and willing to undergo tests including biopsies and long-term follow-up.
Not a fit: People without painful diabetic neuropathy, those who are not candidates for spinal cord stimulators, or those unwilling to undergo biopsies and follow-up are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show that spinal cord stimulation helps nerves recover and reduces pain in people with diabetic neuropathy.
How similar studies have performed: Spinal cord stimulation is already FDA-cleared and has relieved pain for many people with diabetic neuropathy, but studies directly linking stimulation to nerve regrowth using biopsies are limited and this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Townsend, Kristy L — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Townsend, Kristy L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.