Body Representation and Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury
Living with a spinal cord injury can sometimes mean dealing with ongoing pain, especially a type called neuropathic pain, which is often hard to treat. This study wants to understand why this happens. After a spinal cord injury, the way someone’s brain understands their body might change, and we think this change could be connected to ongoing pain. To explore this, we'll use a special virtual reality device. Participants will look at images of their legs to see if they think their legs are bigger or smaller than they actually are. We'll then check if these feelings about body size are related to the presence of neuropathic pain. The goal is to find new ways to help manage this pain, which can really affect quality of life.
At a glance
What is this study about?
When someone has a spinal cord injury, a common and very difficult problem can be ongoing pain. This kind of pain, known as neuropathic pain, is caused by damage to the spinal cord itself and can be very hard to treat with regular medicines. It can really affect a person's daily life and overall happiness. At the moment, doctors and researchers don't fully understand why some people get this chronic pain after a spinal cord injury and others don't, or why it can be so persistent.
One idea we're looking into is whether changes in how a person's brain maps or understands their own body might play a part. After a spinal cord injury, things like losing feeling or not being able to move certain parts of the body, and even changes in how someone sits or moves, could affect how their brain represents their body. We want to see if these changes in 'body representation' are linked to the development or worsening of neuropathic pain.
To test this idea, we'll ask people with spinal cord injuries, and a group of healthy volunteers, to use a special virtual reality headset. This headset will allow us to measure how people perceive the size of their own legs – for example, if they think their legs appear longer or shorter than they actually are. By comparing these perceptions with whether they experience neuropathic pain, we hope to find a connection. Understanding this link could open doors to new ways of thinking about and treating chronic pain in people with spinal cord injuries, which is a big step towards improving their care and quality of life.
Key takeaways
- This study explores the link between spinal cord injury, ongoing pain, and how your brain 'sees' your body.
- It uses virtual reality to measure how you perceive your leg size.
- The goal is to better understand and treat neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.
- Participants are men and women aged 18-65 with or without spinal cord injury.
- The study involves a single visit and no new medications.
- Your involvement helps advance knowledge about chronic pain.
Who may be eligible?
To take part in this study, you need to be a man or woman between 18 and 65 years old, with normal or corrected eyesight (like wearing glasses or contact lenses). If you have a spinal cord injury, you'll need to have some loss of feeling and movement in your lower legs. Everyone taking part must provide their written agreement after we've explained everything about the study clearly.
There are also some reasons why you might not be able to join. This includes if you have certain eating disorders or psychiatric conditions that could affect how you see your body. You also can't participate if using virtual reality makes you feel unwell, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you're currently in prison or under legal guardianship.
For the healthy volunteers, you also can't have any major problems with movement or feeling in your lower limbs. We want to make sure we're comparing people with spinal cord injuries to people who are generally healthy.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
- Do you have normal or corrected vision?
- If you have a spinal cord injury, do you have some loss of feeling and movement in your lower legs?
- Do you feel comfortable using virtual reality headsets?
- Are you able to give written consent to participate?
- Are you currently pregnant or breastfeeding? (If yes, you cannot participate.)
What does participation involve?
Taking part in this study will involve one visit to our research centre. During this visit, we will ask you to wear a virtual reality headset. You will then be asked to make judgments about the size of your legs as shown in the virtual reality environment. We will also ask you questions about any pain you might be experiencing and your general health. There are no medications involved in this study, and no follow-up visits are planned. The entire visit, including explanations and assessments, is expected to last for a few hours at most.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (2)
- Pierre Wertheimer Neurological HospitalVerified postcodeBron, France
- Henry Gabrielle HospitalVerified postcodeSaint-Genis-Laval, France
Common questions
What is 'neuropathic pain'?
Neuropathic pain is a type of ongoing pain caused by damage to nerves, in this case, nerves in the spinal cord.
What does 'body representation' mean?
It's how your brain understands and creates a map of your own body, including its size, shape, and position.
Will I have to take any new medicine for this study?
No, this study does not involve taking any new medications.
How long will my visit to the study centre last?
Your visit should last only a few hours.
Can I leave the study if I change my mind?
Yes, you can withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason.
How to find out more
Jacques LUAUTE, Pr
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
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