ACUTE PAIN

This study aims to see which of two add-on drugs, dexmedetomidine or dexamethasone, works better when mixed with a standard numbing shot for arm surgery. Researchers will give the nerve block to 44 adults having upper limb surgery to see which drug helps the numbness start faster…

This study is testing whether using a virtual reality (VR) headset can help reduce pain for adults with sickle cell disease who come to the emergency room with a severe pain crisis. It will add VR sessions to the usual pain medications to see if it makes patients feel better. Res…

This study aims to find the best way to manage pain after a planned cesarean section. It will compare two methods of delivering a numbing medication to the abdominal wall: one guided by ultrasound and one done by the surgeon during the procedure. Researchers will measure how well…

This study is testing whether a special laser treatment can help reduce pain from a recent ankle sprain. Researchers will compare a real laser device to a fake one, with both groups also receiving standard care like rest, ice, and exercises. The goal is to see if the laser provid…

This study is testing if giving a continuous magnesium drip through an IV can help manage pain in adults who are critically injured and in the ICU. The goal is to see if this common mineral can safely reduce patients' pain scores and their need for strong opioid painkillers. Rese…

This study is testing a simple dental injection, called the Twin Block, to see if it can effectively reduce jaw muscle pain after wisdom tooth removal. The goal is to provide a safe, non-opioid option for pain control to help address the national opioid crisis. Researchers will e…

This study compares two different nerve-blocking techniques to see which one better controls pain after single-level lumbar disc surgery. Researchers will measure how much pain medication patients need and their pain levels after surgery. The goal is to find the most effective me…

This study is testing if a single, quick session of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can immediately make healthy adults less sensitive to pain. Researchers will compare the real laser to a fake, non-working laser to see if it truly changes how much pain people can feel and withsta…

This study is testing a special numbing injection, called the Temporo-masseteric Nerve Block (TMNB), given right after wisdom tooth removal. The goal is to see if it can reduce post-surgery pain and the need for strong opioid painkillers. Researchers will follow 20 participants f…

This study is testing whether using relaxing virtual reality (VR) before an egg retrieval procedure can help reduce pain. Women undergoing elective egg freezing are randomly assigned to receive either standard care or standard care plus a 20-minute VR session with calming nature …

This study compares two different nerve-blocking techniques to manage pain after heart surgery through the breastbone. Researchers will test which method provides better pain relief and recovery for 50 patients undergoing this type of surgery. The goal is to improve comfort and r…

This study is testing whether a very brief, 7-minute mindfulness session can help reduce pain and anxiety for people undergoing specific spine procedures called kyphoplasty or radiofrequency ablation. Researchers will enroll 80 patients and randomly assign them to either receive …

This study is testing a new way to measure pain after surgery. The goal is to see if a new scale, which considers both pain level and how much it limits a patient's ability to move and do activities, leads to better decisions about giving extra pain medicine. Researchers will com…

This study compares two different nerve block techniques for managing pain after lumbar spine surgery. Researchers want to see which method provides better pain relief while reducing the need for opioid pain medications. The study involves 60 adults undergoing single-level back s…

This study is testing whether a short, audio-guided mindfulness practice can help reduce pain for patients waiting in an orthopedic clinic. Researchers will compare the mindfulness audio to standard injury management information. The goal is to see if this brief, accessible inter…

This study is testing whether a specific, long-term exercise program can help U.S. veterans feel better. It will see if the workouts improve body composition, physical strength, and reduce symptoms of pain, fatigue, depression, and PTSD. Over 18 months, 25 participants will atten…

This study is testing if a specific pain-blocking injection, given after planned abdominal surgery, helps patients breathe better during recovery. Researchers will measure how well the diaphragm moves and how much pain patients feel. The goal is to see if this method improves com…

This study aims to understand how daily pain, mood, and activities are connected by having 800 participants use a smartphone app called SOMA for four months. The goal is to find patterns that might predict when short-term (acute) pain becomes long-term (chronic) pain. A smaller g…

This study aims to test and improve tools used to measure pain in infants and young children under 2 years old. Researchers will conduct interviews with 60 caregivers and clinicians to see if the assessment questions are clear, complete, and relevant. The goal is to create reliab…

This study aims to understand if the hormone oxytocin changes how nerves in the skin respond to touch and pressure after the skin is briefly heated. Researchers will compare oxytocin to a placebo in 60 healthy volunteers. They will measure nerve signals directly using a fine need…

This study is testing a new, non-invasive device that measures changes in a child's pupil size to try to get an objective reading of their pain. It involves 100 children and teens, aged 6 to 21, who are having planned surgery or a bone marrow transplant at Children's National Hos…

This study aims to understand if severe pain experienced just before emergency surgery increases the risk of developing long-term chronic pain after the operation. Researchers will follow 693 adults undergoing emergency bone or abdominal surgery in France. The goal is to identify…