Work

Effects of Nicotine on Spinal Cord Injury Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Crossover Trial

Year: 2012

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: BACKGROUND: One factor affecting spinal cord injury (SCI)-related pain may be nicotine. Case reports have described a worsening of neuropathic pain from smoking and relief from abstinence. Neurobiological correlates also implicate the potential effect of nicotine on SCI-related pain. METHOD: The current study employed a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover design to examine the effect of nicotine exposure on subtypes of SCI-related pain among smokers and nonsmokers. RESULTS: Whereas nonsmokers with SCI showed a reduction in mixed forms of pain following nicotine exposure, smokers with SCI showed a converse increase in pain with regard to both mixed and neuropathic forms of pain. The exacerbation of pain in chronic nicotine or tobacco users may not only elucidate possible pain mechanisms but may also be of use in smoking cessation counseling among those with SCI.

Source: Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

DOI: 10.1310/sci1802-101

Authors: Elizabeth Richardson, J. Richards, Christopher Stewart, Timothy Ness

Institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Medical College of Wisconsin

Language: English

Topic: Spinal Cord Injury Research

Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2036988856

FWCI: 0.693

Cites: 32

Cited by: 14

Related to: 10