Early Treatment with Calcitonin to Prevent or Reduce Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effect of early treatment with calcitonin on the occurrence and severity of neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury. This study aims to understand how calcitonin might influence different types of pain after spinal cord injury, including musculoskeletal, visceral, and neuropathic pain at various levels. Calcitonin has been used before to manage acute pain in conditions like amputation and vertebral fractures, as well as to prevent complex regional pain syndrome after stroke, making it a candidate for investigation in this setting. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 100 IU of calcitonin or a saline placebo through daily subcutaneous injections for two weeks, starting within 48 hours after their spinal cord injury. This is a double-blinded study, meaning neither participants nor researchers know which treatment each participant receives. The treatment period lasts two weeks, and the study includes monitoring for adverse reactions during this time. Throughout the study, participants will be assessed for the intensity and incidence of neuropathic pain at six and twelve months after injury. Researchers will also track the use of medications for neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain, as well as any adverse effects occurring within the first two weeks. This detailed follow-up will help understand the longer-term impact of early calcitonin treatment on pain management after spinal cord injury.

Calcitonin Therapy on Incidence and Severity of Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury