| Description |
Most spinal cord injuries (SCI) result in spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain (SCINP). SCI-NP is a major healthcare concern given the extensive burden it places on both patients and the healthcare system. This, coupled with the lack of effective and available treatments for those suffering from SCI-NP, places it at the forefront of therapeutic development and innovation. The body undergoes many physiological changes post-SCI, with one major change being in gut microbiome composition and diversity. The gut microbiome has been shown to be intimately related to inflammatory processes, a key pathological element of SCI-NP. Despite this, there is no current research exploring modulation of gut microbiome composition as a therapeutic option for SCI-NP alleviation. This thesis will discuss the current research that exists concerning SCI-NP and the gut microbiome, respectively, as well as explore the hypothesized relationship between gut microbiome modulation and SCI-NP. Furthermore, it will explore diet as an accessible modifier for SCI-NP and the optimal animal models which can be used to experimentally test this relationship. |
