CRPS/RSD RESEARCH:FALL 2003
Mc Gill University, Montreal, Quebec.
INTRODUCTION: DR BENNETT
Gary J. Bennett, Ph.D., is Canada Senior Research Chair, Department
of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University in Montreal,
Canada. He earned his bachelor’s degree (Psychology) in 1970
from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. (Experimental Psychology)
from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University
in 1978. In the same year, he joined the Neurobiology and Anesthesiology
Branch (NAB), National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes
of Health, as a Public Health Service Postdoctoral Fellow. He was
appointed to the permanent staff of NAB in 1979, and was made Chief
of the Neuropathic Pain and Pain Measurement Section in 1991. In
1996, he became Professor in the Department of Neurology at MCP
Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. He joined McGill University
in 2001.
He has served on the American Pain Society’s Board of Directors
and on the Editorial Board for Pain (1986-1999), the journal of
the International Association for the Study of Pain, and currently
serves on the Editorial Board for Pain Medicine, the journal of
the American Academy of Pain Medicine. He has served on the Board
of Directors of the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association
of America, where he was Director of Research, and received their
Scientific Achievement Award in 2000. He was awarded the American
Pain Society’s Frederick W.L. Kerr Basic Science Research
Award in 1996, and the American Academy of Pain Medicine’s
Founder’s Award in 2001. For the past 25 years, his research
has focused on the mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal pain
sensations, and the pharmacological basis of pain control.
RSD RESEARCH PROJECTS AT MCGILL
(Qualifying patients are invite to participate in any one study
or any
combination of studies).
- (1) Sensory testing for characterizing the details of the abnormal
pain of RSD: These studies apply precisely controlled touch, heat
and cold stimuli to the painful area and to normal areas to measure
such things as the threshold for pain, the duration of the pain,the
location of the pain, and so on. We use stimuli that cause as
little pain as possible. Approximately 2 hours.
- (2) Functional magnetic resonance (fMRI)imaging studies: MRI
scans are taken while various stimuli (touch, cold, heat) are
applied to the area of RSD and to normal areas. The stimuli are
chosen to produce as little pain as possible. Approximately 3
hours.
- (3) Scanning laser Doppler imaging of sympathetic nervous system
reflexes:
The laser Doppler imaging method is safe and non-invasive. It
is
performed with the patient seated comfortably in a reclining chair.
Various stimuli are used, most of these are painless (for example,
deep breathing maneuvers), some are minimally painful (for example,
lightly brushing the skin in the affected area). Approximately
1.5 hours.
- (4) Skin biopsies:
Small, circular pieces of skin, 3 mm in diameter, are removed
for chemical and anatomical study. The skin samples are taken
after the skin is anesthetized. Skin biopsy sites are so small
that no stitches are required. In the normal situation the biopsy
sites heal within a few days with just a bandage to cover; we
have checked the medical literature and consulted with our RSD-expert
colleagues- we are confident that healing of these minor injuries
in RSD skin will be normal. We take two skin samples (one from
painful skin and one from normal skin). We realize that patients
may be reluctant to participate in such an invasive study and
we certainly respect anyone's decision to not participate. We
note however, that although there is something obviously wrong
with RSD skin, no one has ever examined it under the microscope
to try to find exactly what is wrong. Approximately 1.5 hours.
The patient will receive a full medical evaluation from the physicians
at the
Montreal General Hospital Pain Centre. Interested patients should
contact:
Gary J. Bennett, PhD
Anesthesia Research Unit
McGill University (McIntyre 1202)
3655 Promenade Sir William Osler
Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6
CANADA
tel.: (514) 398-3432
FAX: (514) 398-8241
email: gary.bennett@mcgill.ca
NOTE: A French version of this study will be available soon.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING...........
WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE?
PARC is not aware of any other Canadian research on RSD that is
being conducted at the present time. There is an excellent opportunity
to study RSD at McGill University, known for its research around
the world.
First of all, the research being conducted will help the researchers
better understand the "puzzle of RSD", what causes it,
and how it works in the body.
Secondly, the scientific knowledge gained from these studies will
lead to the development of better treatments for this painful, neurological
syndrome. New treatments are desperately needed. Everyone will benefit.
Thirdly, the researcher in question, Dr Bennett, has a great deal
of experience studying and testing RSD patients since he has conducted
quality RSD research for over 20 years in United States.
Lastly, doing something NOW that will benefit you later, should
be considered as a very good reason to help this excellent researcher
gather his data.
PARC urges all Canadians to participate and we plan to offer ourselves
as subjects. What about you?
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