Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Spinal Cord Burst Stimulation for Chronic Radicular Pain Following Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Randomized Double-blind Sham-controlled Crossover Trial
Brief Summary: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a widely applied therapy to treat chronic neuropathic pain, and one of the most common indications is persisting radicular neuropathic pain following lumbar spine surgery. In traditional SCS therapies, the objective has been to replace the pain sensation with paresthesia. The anticipation is that the electrical current alters pain processing by masking the sensation of pain with a comfortable tingling or paresthesia. Although patients mostly cope with paresthesia, a significant proportion reports that the sensation is unpleasant.

'Burst' SCS utilizes complex programming to deliver high-frequency stimuli. This SCS technique seems to provide paresthesia-free stimulation, resulting in better pain relief of low back and leg pain then traditional tonic stimulation.

The widespread use of SCS has not been backed by solid evidence. The absence of placebo-controlled trials has long been an important point of criticism, but due to the nature of the intervention with sensation of paresthesia, studies with placebo control have so far not been considered possible. When 'burst' SCS is used the stimulation is often unnoticed by the patient, allowing comparison with placebo stimulation.

The aim of this randomized double-blind sham-controlled crossover trial is to evaluate the efficacy of 'burst' spinal cord stimulation for chronic radicular pain following spine surgery.


Options:
A: Key Inclusion Criteria:

1. Complaint of chronic pain of the trunk and/or limbs
2. Willing and able to comply with all protocol-required procedures and assessments/evaluations; able to independently read and complete all questionnaires and assessments provided in English
3. Subject signed a valid, Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved informed consent form (ICF) provided in English

Key Exclusion Criteria:

1. Meets any contraindication in the Precision SCS system per locally applicable Directions for Use (DFU)
2. Any pain-related diagnosis or medical/psychological condition that, in the clinician's best judgment, might confound reporting of study outcomes
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Have undergone ≥1 back surgeries and developed chronic radicular pain that has remained refractory to non-surgical treatment for ≥6 months
* Minimum pain intensity of 5/10 on the leg pain NRS at baseline
* Successful two-week SCS testing period with tonic stimulation (≥2 points reduction in leg pain NRS from baseline). This means patients will experience paresthesia during the SCS trial period
* Mandatory assessment at the Multidisciplinary outpatient clinic for back-, neck- and shoulder rehabilitation, St. Olavs University Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

* Coexisting conditions that would increase procedural risk (e.g., sepsis, coagulopathy)
* History of laminectomy or posterior fusion at the thoracolumbar junction, where percutaneous electrode end tips are routinely placed.
* Abnormal pain behavior and/or unresolved psychiatric illness.
* Unresolved issues of secondary gain or inappropriate medication use.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Have been clinically diagnosed with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) of the lower limbs.
2. Average pain intensity of ≥ 5 out of 10 cm on the VAS in the lower extremities at enrollment.
3. Have stable neurological status.
4. Be on a stable analgesic regimen.
5. Be 22 years of age or older at the time of enrollment.
6. Be an appropriate candidate for the surgical procedures required in this study.
7. Be capable of subjective evaluation, able to read and understand English-written questionnaires, and able to read, understand and sign the written informed consent in English.
8. Be willing and capable of giving informed consent.
9. Be willing and able to comply with study-related requirements, procedures, and scheduled visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Have a diagnosis of a lower limb mononeuropathy, have had a lower limb amputation, or have large (≥3 cm) and/or gangrenous ulcers of the lower limbs.
2. Have a BMI ≥ 40.
3. Currently prescribed a daily opioid dosage \> 120 mg morphine equivalents.
4. Have a medical condition or pain in other area(s), not intended to be treated in this study.
5. Have a current diagnosis of a progressive neurological disease such a multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, rapidly progressive arachnoiditis, brain or spinal cord tumor, central deafferentation syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, acute herniating disc, severe spinal stenosis and brachial plexus injury.
6. Have a current diagnosis or condition such as a coagulation disorder, bleeding diathesis, platelet dysfunction, low platelet count, severely diminished functional capacity due to underlying cardiac/pulmonary disease, symptomatic uncontrolled hypertension, progressive peripheral vascular disease or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus that presents excess risk for performing the procedure.
7. Have failed prior SCS, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation, or peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) trials for chronic intractable pain.
8. Have significant spinal stenosis, objective evidence of epidural scarring and/or any signs or symptoms of myelopathy.
9. Any previous history of surgery on the posterior elements (laminectomy, posterior fusion) resulting in a compromised epidural space.
10. Be benefitting from an interventional procedure and/or surgery to treat lower limb pain.
11. Have an existing drug pump and/or another active implantable device such as a pacemaker.
12. Have a condition currently requiring or likely to require the use of diathermy or MRI that is inconsistent with Senza system guidelines in the Physician's Manual.
13. Have either a metastatic malignant neoplasm or untreated local malignant neoplasm.
14. Have a life expectancy of less than one year.
15. Have a local infection at the anticipated surgical entry site or an active systemic infection.
16. Be pregnant or plan to become pregnant during the study. Women of childbearing potential who are sexually active must use a reliable form of birth control, be surgically sterile, or be at least 2 years post-menopausal.
17. Have within 6 months of enrollment a significant untreated addiction to dependency producing medications, alcohol or illicit drugs.
18. Be concomitantly participating in another clinical study.
19. Be involved in an injury claim under current litigation.
20. Be a recipient of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
21. Have a pending or approved worker's compensation claim.
22. Have evidence of an active disruptive psychological or psychiatric disorder or other known condition significant enough to impact perception of pain, compliance with intervention and/or ability to evaluate treatment outcome.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* The patient must have SCS implanted for at least 2 months before study start date
* The patient must be at least 18 years old
* The patient must currently be receiving pain relief from SCS usage
* The patient must be willing to participate in a 9-week study
* The patient must have at least 20% of battery life remaining in his/her spinal cord stimulator
* The patient must be able to tolerate Vicodin-Extra Strength as well as Tylenol, but can also take their own pain medication if it is not one of the two mentioned

Exclusion Criteria:

* The patient is pregnant or intends to become pregnant during the course of the study.
* The patient by report, and/or by physician assessment, exhibits any or all of the following, which might bias reporting of treatment outcome:

A strong untreated dependency on prescription medication such as benzodiazepines and narcotic analgesics.

A strong potential for secondary gain issues.

A significant, untreated psychiatric comorbidity.

* The patient possesses a coexisting clinically relevant or disabling chronic pain problem not treated by SCS
* The patient has been diagnosed with unstable angina
* The patient receives a Karnofsky's performance score of \<60

Answer: B