Recruiting

TMS

Sponsor:

Stanford University

Code:

NCT03137472

Conditions

Complex Regional Pain Syndromes

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Study Details

Brief summary:

The aim of the current study is to assess the efficacy of TMS in the treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). It is hypothesized that participants who receive TMS (Group 1) relative to sham treatment (Group 2) once daily for two days will demonstrate a greater improvement in CRPS-related pain and other associated symptomology (i.e., cognitive, emotional and physical) compared to baseline. Participants will be followed until they reach their baseline for two consecutive weeks to assess safety and duration of symptom alleviation.

Conditions

Complex Regional Pain Syndromes

Study ID

NCT03137472

Start date

Apr 24, 2017

Status verified date

Jun, 2026

Completion date

Jun 29, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun 29, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-70
  • Diagnosis of CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) for at least 3 months
  • Average pain level reported on Numerical Rating Scale meets entry criteria
  • Ability to perform the experimental task and procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • MRI contraindication (metal implants or devices, claustrophobia)
  • TMS Contraindication (eg metal implant or devices near the site of stimulation)
  • History of epilepsy
  • History of a psychological or psychiatric disorder that would interfere with study procedures, at the discretion of the researcher.
  • Neurologic illness that would interfere with brain integrity
  • Current medical condition or medication use that would interfere with study procedures or data integrity, at the discretion of the researcher.
  • Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
  • On going legal action or disability claim.

Study Design

Enrollment

40 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Active Treatment

Participants will receive active TMS in the target area once daily for two days

sham comparator: Sham Treatment

Participants will receive active TMS in a non-target area once daily for two days

Interventions

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

The Magventure TMS stimulator will be used to perform intermittent theta burst followed by high frequency Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in Pain [ Time Frame: 1 week follow-up compared to baseline ]
  • Duration of Pain Relief [ Time Frame: Duration from last treatment until pain returns - up to an estimate of 6 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Omar Altirkawi

(650) 497-0485omar97@stanford.edu

Locations

Stanford Pain Management Center

Recruiting

Redwood City, California, United States, 94043

Contacts

Birute Gedrimaite

650-497-0485birute@stanford.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Stanford University

Last update posted

Jun 23, 2026

Last verified

Jun, 2026

Keywords

  • TMS, CRPS, Sham

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Stanford University on 2026-06-23.