The spinal cord injury pain clinical research group is investigating the mechanisms and management of pain following spinal cord injury in humans with a particular focus on the contribution of brain mechanisms. Around one fifth of people following spinal cord injury experience severe pain which is often in the region of lost sensation and has a major impact on quality of life and ability to function. Despite this, the mechanisms are poorly understood and it is very difficult to obtain satisfactory relief in the majority of people with pain. To investigate this problem, we are using a combination of the latest brain imaging techniques including electroencephalography, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. These techniques will help us to identify the electrical, neurochemical and other structural and functional changes that may contribute to the development of pain and therefore provide targets for clinical intervention. In addition, we are collaborating with clinical psychologists in our department and clinicians in our spinal unit to investigate psychological aspects of pain following spinal cord injury including cognitive influences on pain and how this may be utilized in pain management. The main source of funding for this program is through the NSW Government Spinal Cord Injury Research Grants Program.
Collaborators
Internal
A/Prof Janet Keast, Pain Management Research Institute
Prof Mac Christie, Pain Management Research Institute
Dr Peregrine Osborne, Pain Management Research Institute
A/Prof Michael Nicholas, Pain Management Research Institute
Ms Kathryn Nicholson Perry, Pain Management Research Institute
Dr Robin Murray, Pain Management Research Institute
External
Dr Luke Henderson, Dept of Anatomy & Histology, University of Sydney.
Dr James Middleton, Moorong Spinal Injuries Unit, Royal Rehabilitation Centre, Ryde
Dr Sue Rutkowksi, Spinal Injuries Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital
Mr Peter Stanwell, Institute for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Sydney
Prof Ashley Craig, University of Technology, Sydney
Dr Yvonne Tran, University of Technology, Sydney
Prof Simon Gandevia, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, University of New South Wales
Prof Vaughan Macefield, Department of Physiology, University of Western Sydney
Selected publications
Murray RF, Asghari A, Egorov DD, Rutkowski RB, Siddall PJ, Soden RJ, Ruff R, (2007) Impact of spinal cord injury and pain on self-perceived pre and postmorbid cognitive, emotional and physical functioning, Spinal Cord, (advance online publication 16 January 2007; doi: 10.1038/sj.sc.3102022).
Vikman KS, Duggan AW, Siddall PJ (2007) Interferon- induced disruption of GABAergic inhibition in the spinal dorsal horn in vivo, Pain, (advance online publication 2 April 2007; doi:10.1016/j.pain.2007. 02.010).
Siddall PJ (2007) Central neuropathic pain from spinal cord injury. In: Schmidt, R.F. and Willis W.D. Encyclopedia of Pain, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 318-320.
Siddall PJ, Cousins MJ (2007) Postoperative Pain, acute neuropathic pain. In: Schmidt, R.F. and Willis W.D. Encyclopedia of Pain, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 1857-1860.
Siddall PJ (2007) Spinal cord injury pain model, contusion injury model. In: Schmidt, R.F. and Willis W.D. Encyclopedia of Pain, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 2212-2215.
Siddall PJ, Cousins MJ, Otte A, Griesing T, Chambers R, Murphy TK (2006) Pregabalin in central neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury: A placebo-controlled trial, Neurology, 67:1792-1800.
Siddall PJ, Middleton JW. (2006) A proposed algorithm for the management of pain following spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord, 44: 67-77 (advance online publication, August 23, 2005; doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101824)
Siddall, P.J. (2006) Pain following spinal cord injury. In: McMahon, S. and Koltzenburg M. Wall & Melzack's Textbook of Pain, 5th Edition, Churchill Livingstone, London, pp. 1043-1055.
Drew, G.M., Siddall, P.J. and Duggan, A.W. (2004) Mechanical allodynia following contusion injury of the rat spinal cord is associated with loss of GABAergic inhibition in the dorsal horn, Pain, 109:379-388.
Siddall, P.J., McClelland, J.M., Rutkowski, S.B. and Cousins, M.J. (2003) A longitudinal study of the prevalence and characteristics of pain and non-painful phantom sensations in the first five years following spinal cord injury, Pain, 103: 249-257.
Gerke, M. B., Xu L., Duggan A. W. and Siddall P. J. (2003) Ventrobasal thalamic neuronal activity in rats with mechanical allodynia following contusive spinal cord injury, Neuroscience, 117: 715-722.
Siddall, P.J., Yezierski, R.P. and Loeser, J. D. (2002) Taxonomy and epidemiology of spinal cord injury pain. In: Yezierski, R.P. and Burchiel, K. (eds.) Spinal cord injury pain: assessment, mechanisms, management, Progress in Pain Research and Management, Vol. 23, IASP Press, Seattle, pp 9-23.
Siddall, P.J. and Loeser, J.D. (2001) Pain following spinal cord injury, Spinal Cord, 39:63-73.
Drew, G.M., Siddall, P.J. and Duggan, A.W. (2001) Responses of spinal neurones to cutaneous and dorsal root stimuli following contusive spinal cord injury in the rat. Brain Research, 893: 59-69.
Siddall, P.J., Molloy, A., Walker, S., Mather, L.E., Rutkowski, S.B. and Cousins, M.J. (2000) Efficacy of intrathecal morphine and clonidine in the treatment of neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 91:1493-1498.
Siddall, P.J., Taylor, D.A., McClelland, J.M., Rutkowski, S.B. and Cousins, M.J. (1999) Pain report and the relationship between physical factors and the development of pain in the first six months following spinal cord injury. Pain 81:187-197.
Siddall, P.J., Taylor, D.A., and Cousins, M.J. (1997) Classification of pain following spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord, 35: 69-75.
Siddall, P.J., Xu, C.L. and Cousins, M.J. (1995) Allodynia following traumatic spinal cord injury in the rat, Neuroreport, 6: 1241-1244.
Top
About Us
