Sickle Cell Pain: Intervention With Capsaicin Exposure

This study evaluates the safety and feasibility of using high dose topical capsaicin patches for the treatment of neuropathic pain in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease, as well as the feasibility of using a number of tests for the evaluation and monitoring of neuropathic pain. The hypothesis, based on evidence obtained from studies in adults with neuropathic pain related to other diseases as well as a single previously published study of capsaicin in pediatric patients, is that capsaicin will be well tolerated in this population. Additionally, it is hypothesized that it is feasible to monitor changes in neuropathic pain via the testing listed below.