Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury
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- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
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Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
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- Who runs it
- London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's
- Trial code
- NCT07588711
- Record updated
- 15 May 2026
- Original description
This pilot randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical investigation will evaluate the feasibility and safety of a 30-day home-based transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) intervention in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) and neuropathic pain. Participants will be randomized to receive either active taVNS targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve or sham taVNS delivered to the earlobe. Primary outcomes include feasibility, safety, adherence, acceptability, and blinding success. Exploratory outcomes include changes in neuropathic pain, systemic inflammatory biomarkers, vagal tone assessed via heart rate variability, and quality of life.Read full original descriptionShow less
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) as an Anti-inflammatory Strategy for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury
This pilot randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical investigation will evaluate the feasibility and safety of a 30-day home-based transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) intervention in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) and neuropathic pain. Participants will be randomized to receive either active taVNS targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve or sham taVNS delivered to the earlobe. Primary outcomes include feasibility, safety, adherence, acceptability, and blinding success. Exploratory outcomes include changes in neuropathic pain, systemic inflammatory biomarkers, vagal tone assessed via heart rate variability, and quality of life.
Inclusion: SCI of any level or severity; 18 years of age or older; current neuropathic pain; on no medications or on a stable prescribed dose (no change in prior 6-weeks) of anti-inflammatory, pain medications and/or depression medications.
Exclusion: unstable dose of prescribed anti-inflammatory, depression, or pain medications within past 6-weeks; presence of cardiovascular disease; epilepsy; current wound/infection; Prone to autonomic dysreflexia; pacemaker or other implanted electrical device; cerebral shunts; pregnant or attempting to become pregnant.