Arthritis Clinical Trials

Inclusion Criteria:

Study is restricted to Veterans only.

Must be Right Handed.

(Chronic Pain with knee osteoarthritis) Diagnosed with: unilateral, symptomatic knee osteoarthritis based on American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria.

Have had a knee x-ray within the last 6 months. Must have average pain intensity of 4 or greater on a 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) scale.

(Chronic Low Back Pain) Have primary complaint of constant or intermittent back pain of at least 6 months duration.

Have a Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire score of >7.

(Diabetes Mellitus with Painful Peripheral Neuropathy) Have a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus for at least 6 months. Have a diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Have had Electromyography(EMG) testing within the last 6 months. Have a >40 mm score on the short-form McGill Pain questionnaire.

(Healthy controls) Must be pain free No history of neurological or psychiatric illness. No diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus. No evidence of neuropathy on clinical assessment. -

Exclusion Criteria:

Are Pregnant. Have metal in the body or other contraindications to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Have a chronic pain condition unrelated to knee osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain or diabetes.

HAVE A BRAIN INFECTION,STROKE OR TUMOR. Have a history of migraines, traumatic brain injury or seizure. HAVE RISK FACTORS FOR OTHER NON-DIABETIC(not diabetic) NEUROPATHIES

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