Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Effect of Spinal Cord Stimulation in Painful Diabetic Polyneuropathy: a Multicenter Randomised Controlled Trial (PDP Study)
Brief Summary: Rationale: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Pain is a common symptom of diabetic neuropathy, affecting 11-34% of patients suffering form DM. The burden of disease of painful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDP) is high for both the patient and society, due to significant pain levels, frequent co-morbidity, polypharmacy and significant health resource use. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used for over 30 years to treat neuropathic pain. Several small clinical studies have shown a beneficial effect of SCS on pain in PDP.

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether SCS leads to clinically relevant (≥50%) pain relief in patients with moderate-to-severe PDP in the lower limbs after 6 months of treatment.

Secondary objectives to investigate 1) the effect of SCS on health related quality of life in PDP; 2) the effect of SCS on the quality of sleep in PDP; 3) the effect of SCS on mood in PDP; 4) the effect of SCS on blood glucose control in PDP; 5) the effect of SCS on large and small nerve fibre functions in PDP; 6) identifying predictive factors for success of SCS treatment of PDP; after 6 months 7) the effect of SCS on small fibre loss and regeneration in PDP; and 8) costs, cost-utility and cost-effectiveness after 12 months of treatment.

Study design: the study is a multi centre randomized controlled trial. Study population: Patients suffering from moderate-to-severe PDP in the lower limbs due to diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2 as diagnosed by clinical symptoms (glove and stocking distribution).

Intervention: patients assigned to group 1 will receive spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and/or best (drug) treatment as possible, patients assigned to group 2 will receive best (drug) treatment as possible.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The main study parameter will be the mean pain intensity and/or maximal pain intensity during daytime and/or during night time as measured on a weighted NRS and/or a PGIC for pain and sleep measured on a 7-point Likert scale, after 6 months of treatment.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: SCS related risks include: lead migration (14%), lead breakage (7%), implanted pulse generator migration (1%), loss of therapeutic effect, lost or unpleasant paresthesias (12%), infection or wound breakdown (10%), Pain at IPG incision site (12%), IPG pocket fluid collection (5%). Treatment-as-usual related risks are related to the medication used and do not increase due to participation in this study.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* At least 18 years old at the time of informed consent
* Willing and able to provide a signed and dated informed consent
* Capable of comprehending and consenting in English
* Willing and able to comply with all study procedures, study visits, and be available for the duration of the study
* On a stable dose (no new, discontinued or changes in) of all prescribed pain medications and willing/able to maintain or only decrease the dose of all prescribed pain medications
* Tried appropriate conventional medical management for their pain
* Not indicated for additional surgical treatment in the opinion of the referring physician or spinal surgeon
* Undergone previous spinal surgery
* Diagnosed with FBSS with appropriate pain score
* Primary pain at appropriate spinal level

Exclusion Criteria:

* Has an active implanted device, whether turned on or off
* Displays current signs of a systemic infection
* Pregnant or lactating, inadequate birth control, or the possibility of pregnancy during the study
* Has untreated major psychiatric comorbidity
* Has serious drug-related behavioral issues
* Has neurological abnormalities unrelated to Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
* Diagnosed with Raynaud disease
* Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia
* Has any active malignancy or has been diagnosed with cancer and has not been in remission for at least 1 year prior to screening
* Has secondary gains which, in the opinion of the investigator, are likely to interfere with the study
* Participating or planning to participate in another clinical trial
* Has characteristics/limits of household or close contacts involved in study (eg, family member already a study participant where blind could be broken)
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Moderate-to-severe PDP in the lower limbs

  * The pain intended to treat has been present for more than 12 months
  * Previous treatment has been unsuccessful (insufficient pain relief and/or unacceptable side-effects) with drugs from the following drug categories:
  * Amitriptylin or an other tricyclic antidepressant and/or
  * Pregabalin (Lyrica®) or Gabapentin (Neurontin®) and/or
  * Duloxetine (Cymbalta®) and/or
  * Tramadol or strong opioids Patients were treated with 3 drugs from the above mentioned drug categories and followed the treatment algorithm for painful diabetic polyneuropathy according to Jensen. Starting dosage was based on individual patient characteristics. Each drug was tried for at least 3 weeks and dose was raised once, if possible. By insufficient pain relief and/or unacceptable side-effects, the drug treatment was stopped. Patients reached a steady state in medication use and it is not allowed to increase dosage during the study.
* Mean pain intensity during daytime and/or night time should be 5 or higher measured on a numeric rating scale (NRS). Pain during daytime will be scored 3 times per day during for 4 days according to Jensen.
* Patient's age is between 18 and 75 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

* The patient has had neuromodulation therapy during the month before the intake
* Neuropathic pain is most prevalent in the upper limbs (NRS\>3)
* Neuropathy or chronic pain of other origin than diabetes mellitus (NRS\> 3)
* Addiction: drugs, alcohol (\> 5E / day) and/or medication

  * Drugs: cocaine, heroine, marihuana.
  * Alcohol: wine, beer, liquor (max 5E / day)
  * Medication: benzodiazepines.
* Insufficient cooperation from the patient (little motivation, understanding or communication)
* Blood clotting disorder, when using 2 or more different kinds of anti coagulation
* Immune deficiency (HIV-positive, corticosteroids with a dose equivalent to \> prednisolone 10 mg, immunodepressive, etc.)
* Peripheral vascular disease without palpable peripheral pulses at both feet (inclusion is possible if pulses are absent, but ankle brachial index is between 0.7 and 1.2 in both feet)
* Active foot ulceration
* Life expectancy \< 1 year
* Pacemaker
* Local infection or other skin disorders at site of incision
* Psychiatric problems potentially interfering with cooperation in the study
* Pregnancy
* Severe cardiac or pulmonary failure (\> NYHA classification II)
* Unstable blood glucose control (change in HbA1c\>1,0% in three months prior to inclusion)
C: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults over the age of 18
2. Onset of low back pain \> 12 months
3. Low back pain intensity \> 60 out of 100mm on pain visual analogue scale (VAS)
4. Presence of clear component of neuropathic pain based on a PainDETECT Questionnaire score of \>19 (we will monitor this inclusion criteria in the early stage of the trial and revise if necessary)
5. Degenerative disc disease confirmed by imaging or internal disc disruption as confirmed by discography
6. On stable pain medications, as determined by the Investigator, for at least 28 days prior to enrolling in this study and not change medication dosage without consulting Investigator
7. Legally able to provide informed consent
8. Able to comply with study-related requirements, procedures and visits

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Had previous spinal surgery
2. Chronic widespread pain
3. Subject has an active implanted device, whether turned on or off (e.g. pacemaker, intrathecal pump, deep brain stimulator etc.)
4. A current diagnosis of a progressive neurological disease such as multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, rapidly progressive arachnoiditis, rapidly progressive diabetic peripheral neuropathy, brain or spinal cord tumour, or severe/critical central or foraminal spinal stenosis
5. Mechanical spine instability detected by a clinician (validation by flexion/extension films of lumbar spine within the past 6 months showing 4 mm or more translational movement or excessive angular movement manifested by \>5 degrees segmental angular movement) e.g. any forms of spondylolisthesis
6. A medical condition or pain in other area(s), not intended to be treated with SCS, that could interfere with study procedures, accurate pain reporting, and/or confound evaluation of study endpoints, as determined by the Investigator
7. Bleeding diathesis such as coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia
8. Immunocompromised and at an increased risk for infection
9. Systemic infection or local infection that would contraindicate SCS placement
10. Metastatic malignant disease or active local malignant disease
11. Pregnant (if female and sexually active, subject must be using a reliable form of contraception, be surgically sterile or be at least 2 years post-menopausal)
12. Active alcohol, marijuana, recreational or prescription drug abuse or dependence or unwilling to stop/reduce excessive inappropriate medication.
13. Evidence of an active disruptive psychological or psychiatric disorder or other known condition significant enough to impact perception of pain, compliance of intervention and/or ability to evaluate treatment outcome as determined by the Investigator
14. Concomitant participation in another clinical trial (surgery, device or drug)
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Neuropathic pain \> 6 months
* Pain intensity ≥ 5 according to NRS (for neuropathic pain component to be treated with SCS)
* Known cause of the pain
* Neuroanatomical correlation to the pain
* ≥50% of the painful area is to be treated with SCS
* The patient has a physical and psychological health status that allows the patient to participate in physiotherapy and undergo SCS implantation.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not able to undergo SCS implantation
* Inadequate knowledge of the Swedish language
* Alcohol or substance abuse
* Severe untreated psychiatric disorders including psychiatric disease and/or psychological conditions which are the primary determinant to the patient's pain condition
* Incapacitating pain conditions of other causes than neuropathic pain
* Pregnancy
* Insufficient compliance
* Malignant disease with short expected survival

Answer: B