Descending modulation and central sensitisation in post-surgical pain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mechanisms of ongoing peripheral drive, central sensitisation and endogenous (descending) pain modulation in a post-surgical pain model following third molar tooth extraction (TME)
IRAS ID
243947
Contact name
Tara Renton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 28 days
Research summary
In this work, we will try to understand how the brain represents pain after tooth surgery. We will use different MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) techniques to do this. These are ‘evoked-response’ fMRI (how the brain responds to an external painful stimulus), ‘resting-state’ fMRI (how the brain looks when we are not doing anything), and perfusion MRI (measures of blood flow in different parts of the brain). We will take these MRI measurements before and after injections, which make the area where the tooth is go numb (like when we have a filling at the dentist). These injections are known as ‘local anaesthetic blockades’. While we know that pain signals come from where the body is injured, sometimes the nervous system also changes how much pain we feel. By using these injections, we can separate out the pain signals that come from where the damage is, from those created by the nervous system. This work will help us understand both these types of pain. In the long term, we think that understanding these different types of pain will help us develop better treatments for pain.\n
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0834
Date of REC Opinion
23 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion