Dr. Young, 4-AP for Neuropathic Pain?

[calico]

Dr. Young, do you think 4-AP should be tried by people with neuropathic pain from spinal stenosis damage? Is it mainly for people with motor problems versus pain problems? Are any of the current studies testing this?

Thanks for any insight.

Calico

[Wise Young]

calico, while there were some early reports that 4-AP reduces pain in people with chronic spinal cord injury, these early reports have not been studied again in a rigorous clinical trial and thus unconfirmed. In the current clinical trials, there has not been sufficient patients with neuropathic pain to allow a statistically significant analysis of the results to say that 4-AP reduces neuropathic pain. I have heard anecdotal stories that it reduces neuropathic pain but, at the same time, I have that 4-AP "unmasks" existing pain (i.e. back pain and joint pain) that the people were not feeling. In my opinion, the treatment is relatively safe when taken appropriately and it may be worth a trial to see if it does reduce neuropathic pain. wise.