Pain Clinical Trials in Pittsburgh, PA

The goal of this observational study is to develop and validate a biomarker for lumbar myofascial pain (MP) based on ultrasound obtained measurements of the lumbar muscles and fascia. The investigators will use advanced machine learning approaches and validation in a randomized controlled trial. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Will the deep learning-based marker reliably identify subjects from the 4 different groups: healthy, MP without trigger points, MP with latent trigger points, and MP with active trigger points? * Will the deep learning-based marker accurately classify/predict the severity of MP in subjects with cLBP? Participants in the healthy group will be asked to do the following tasks: * Consent/Enrollment * Measure Height/Weight * Complete Questionnaires on REDCap * Participate in Ultrasound Imaging Experiment Sessions Participants in the chronic low back pain group will be asked to do the following tasks: * Consent/Enrollment * Complete Questionnaires on REDCap * Measure Height/Weight * Undergo a Standardized Clinical Exam * Participate in Ultrasound Imaging Experiment Sessions Read Less

This is a Platform Protocol to perform Phase II clinical trials in The Early Phase Pain Investigation Clinical Network (EPPIC-Net), under The Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM Initiative, or NIH HEAL InitiativeSM, related to the treatment of Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (PDPN) in a platform setting to test multiple assets under a single protocol. Read Less

As of 2020, 53 million Americans provide unpaid care to an individual with a disability. One commonly performed activity of daily living (ADL) provided by informal caregivers is assisted transfers, which requires moving an individual from one surface to another. Approximately 94% of informal caregivers who assist with ADLs to persons with adult-onset chronic physical disabilities affecting mobility reported musculoskeletal discomfort, with pain and discomfort made worse by performing caregiving activities. Although many informal caregivers assist with transfers, most have never received any formal training in proper manual lifting or mechanical lifting techniques. Improper transfer techniques can be detrimental to not only caregiver health but also to the persons they assist resulting in shoulder injury, bruising and pain from manual lift techniques, hip fractures from falls, and skin tears from shear force that occurs with sliding during transfers. Current standard of care provides limited in-person training of caregivers, as most of the rehabilitation process is client-focused. When training is provided clinicians have no means to objectively evaluate if proper techniques are being performed at discharge or when the caregiver and care recipient return home. For this reason, an outcome measure called the Caregiver Assisted Transfer Technique Instrument (CATT) was developed to provide a quick, objective way to evaluate proper technique of caregivers who provide transfer assistance to individuals with disabilities. The CATT evaluates the caregiver's performance on setup, quality of the task performance, and results. After a formal assessment through stakeholder review involving clinicians, informal caregivers, and individuals with physical disabilities who require transfer assistance, the CATT was expanded to include two versions; one that evaluates manual lift technique (CATT-M) and one that evaluates mechanical lift techniques (CATT-L). However, the CATT must undergo further testing with informal caregivers and the individuals they assist to determine if the CATT is a reliable, valid, and responsive tool for identifying skill deficits in caregivers performing assisted transfers. The purpose of this study is to establish the psychometric properties (reliability, validity, and responsiveness) of the CATT and to evaluate the effects of an individualized training session for participants who have transfer technique deficits as identified by the CATT. The long-term goal of this research is to develop the CATT so that it can be used as an objective indicator of transfer performance as well as guide training and educational interventions for informal caregivers to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal pain and injury associated with assisted transfers. Read Less

This study seeks to improve the treatment of chronic pain in people who are taking buprenorphine (also known as Suboxone, Subutex, Zubsolv). The research study is testing two different interventions along with usual clinical care: 1. Pain Self-Management (PSM): an educational program in which individuals with chronic pain work with a trained pain coach and a pain peer to explore strategies to effectively manage the daily problems that arise from chronic pain. 2. Patient-Oriented Dosing (POD): an alternative dosing of buprenorphine which will be adjusted based on pain levels. The interventions will take place over a period of 12 weeks (3 months). Additionally, participants will complete surveys every 3 months for a period of 1 year (total of 5 survey visits). Participants will receive $50 compensation for each survey visit completed (up to $250 over one year) and can receive up to an additional $100 bonus compensation. There are risks associated with participating in the study, including breach of confidentiality, psychological distress caused by discussing difficult topics, and risks associated with the POD intervention. Read Less

This study examines the relationship between central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms of pain inhibition and the pain relief that occurs following a lumbar medial branch block (MBB). Read Less

The study utilizes a 3-arm placebo-controlled RCT to study the effectiveness of ketamine in reducing chronic post-mastectomy pain. Participants randomized to the first arm will receive a 0.35 mg/kg dose after induction, followed by a 0.25 mg/kg/hr infusion during surgery (up to a maximum of 6 hours) and continued for 2 hours postoperatively. Participants in the second arm will receive a single dose of 0.6 mg/kg of ketamine in the post-anesthesia care unit, and the final group will serve as the control group and receive saline (no ketamine). Read Less

The purpose of this research study is to determine if the effectiveness of a single injection of CTM Boost in the treatment of patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCT) is as effective as a single injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in reducing the symptoms of RCT. Read Less

A multicenter, single-dose study in children 12 to <17 years of age, 6 to <12 years of age, and 2 to <6 years of age who are scheduled for elective open inguinal hernia repair. Enrollment in this study will start with the oldest age group (12 to <17 years) and will continue in a stepwise fashion until appropriate doses are established for all 3 pediatric age groups (12 to <17 years, 6 to <12 years, 2 to <6 years). Read Less