tDCS & Chronic PainTranscranial Direct Current Stimulation and Chronic Pain

For visits 1-5 (tDCS treatment visits), the investigators will start with 0.5mA ramping up to 0.75mA for 5 minutes. Followed by a brief (8 sec) EEG recording. Then, the investigators will apply .75mA to 1mA for 5 minutes. This will also be followed by 8 second EEG recording. The final application of current will be 1mA to 1.75mA for 10 minutes followed again by 8 second EEG recording.

For visits 1-5 (tDCS treatment visits),The sham group will receive 1 minute from 0.0mA to no more than 0.5mA at the initiation of the treatment after which the current will be turned off. They will still proceed with the full 20 minutes as does the treatment group but no current will be further applied as indicated in the treatment group. They will still receive EEG readings at the indicated 8 seconds after "current" is applied but will not receive the current. This is to maintain a blind trial. 0.5mA is negligible current but mimics treatment with an initial small tingle.

TDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation that uses electrical currents to stimulate specific areas of the brain. A constant, low-intensity current passes through two to four electrodes, which can be placed on various locations on the head, to modulate neuronal activity. tDCS can administer anodal and cathodal stimulation to excite (depolarization) or inhibit (hyperpolarization) neuronal activity, respectively. Using low-amplitude direct currents applied via scalp electrodes to alter cortical excitability is not a novel concept. This non-pharmacological approach has held promise for decades as a way to treat a plethora of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Although tDCS is not currently FDA-approved it is considered a non-significant-risk therapy with no record of serious adverse effects.

TDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation that uses electrical currents to stimulate specific areas of the brain. A constant, low-intensity current passes through two to four electrodes, which can be placed on various locations on the head, to modulate neuronal activity. tDCS can administer anodal and cathodal stimulation to excite (depolarization) or inhibit (hyperpolarization) neuronal activity, respectively. Using low-amplitude direct currents applied via scalp electrodes to alter cortical excitability is not a novel concept. This non-pharmacological approach has held promise for decades as a way to treat a plethora of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

The sham group will receive 1 minute from 0.0mA to no more than 0.5mA at the initiation of the treatment after which the current will be turned off. This is to maintain a blind trial. 0.5mA is negligible current, but mimics treatment with an initial small tingle.