Transcutaneous Intercostal Nerve Stimulation in Spinal Cord Injury

Transcutaneous Intercostal Nerve Stimulation in Spinal Cord Injury

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of electric stimulation of the nerves along the intercostal nerves on pain and spasticity in spinal cord injury patients.

Neuromodulation techniques are safely used as a treatment for neuropathic pain in chronic SCI. Neuromodulation techniques have also been safely and successfully used to strengthen the abdomen in stroke patients.10 Most similar to our TINS protocol is transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS), which has shown to mitigate the development of neurogenic bladder in acute SCI.6 However, neuromodulation is rarely performed in acute SCI, and, to our knowledge, neuromodulation has not been performed to prevent the development of chronic neuropathic pain. There has been little published regarding the effects of electric stimulation upon the trunk in acute SCI as a prevention for chronic neuropathic pain and spasticity. Gaps in the knowledge which we intend to fill are:

1. Safety and feasibility of TINS in acute SCI during inpatient rehabilitation.
2. Effectiveness of a 2-week TINS protocol in acute SCI based on changes between admission, discharge, and weekly numerical pain scores and spasticity questionnaire scores in those with TINS compared to sham TINS for 2-months.
3. Analysis of neuropathic pain medication dosages in those with and without TINS at admission, discharge, and 2 months post-discharge, and evaluation of morbidity at 2- months post-discharge

Inclusion Criteria:

• Acute tSCI paraplegia within 4 weeks of injury (n=22)
• 18-75 years old
• Neurologic levels T1-T10
• English speaking
• Admitted to TIRR with pain medications
• TINS can elicit visible or palpable abdominal muscle contraction

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with pacemakers, defibrillators, insulin pumps, and similar devices
• History of peripheral neuropathy
• History of premorbid symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (numbness and/or tingling in the lower extremities, sharp/jabbing/burning pain in the lower extremities, sensitivity to touch, lack of coordination, lack of sensation, muscle weakness, etc.)
• History of nervous system disorder (i.e. prior SCI, stroke, brain injury, degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, etc.)
• Ventilator dependent respiration
• Inability to speak
• Non-English speakers
• Pregnancy
• History of chronic pain
• Intolerant to electric stimulation
• Intolerant to the trial sessions