Neuromodulatory Treatments for Pain Management in TBI

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic pain are common and serious health problems for military veterans and often co-occur, leading to poor post-deployment adjustment. Pharmacological treatments for pain elevate risk of opioid abuse, and research suggests veterans perceive barriers to existing non-pharmacological, clinic-based treatments. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop pain management approaches that are effective, overcome barriers to care, and are readily usable by Veterans. Evidence suggests that neuromodulatory treatments, grounded in understanding of neurophysiological mechanisms of pain, reduce pain-related symptoms and have the potential to be developed into self-directed treatments through use of mobile technology.