Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond the expected period of healing, often lasting months or years despite treatment. When the underlying cause is ischemic or neuropathic in origin, meaning the pain stems from damaged or oxygen-deprived nerves and tissue, standard pain management frequently fails to provide lasting relief.
This page covers the types of chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain being studied in investigational research, why conventional treatment reaches its limits, and what patients who have not found adequate relief through standard care may want to know about investigational options.
ACP-01 is an investigational autologous cell therapy derived from a patient's own blood. It has not been approved by the FDA or Health Canada. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Chronic Pain:
What It Is and Why It Matters
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Pain is a normal and necessary biological signal. It tells the body something is wrong and prompts action. But when pain persists long after the injury or condition that caused it has been treated, or when it develops from nerve and tissue damage that has no clear resolution, it stops being a warning signal and becomes the condition itself.
Chronic pain is broadly defined as pain lasting three months or longer. It affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. It is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States and one of the most undertreated conditions in modern medicine.
For a significant subset of patients, the pain is not just persistent. It is neuropathic or ischemic in origin, meaning it originates from damage or dysfunction in the nervous system, or from nerves that have been starved of the blood supply they need to function normally. This distinction matters because neuropathic and ischemic pain do not respond reliably to the medications and interventions that work for other pain types.
Standard pain management can reduce the signal. It cannot repair the underlying damage. For patients whose pain originates in compromised nerve tissue or chronically ischemic conditions, that distinction is the difference between surface management and addressing the source.
Understanding what type of chronic pain you have, where it originates, and why it has not responded to standard treatment is the foundation for finding the right path forward.
Symptoms and the Lived Experience of
Chronic Neuropathic and Ischemic Pain
Chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain is notoriously difficult to describe and even more difficult for others to understand. Unlike acute pain that has a clear cause and a predictable arc, chronic pain is often invisible, unpredictable, and resistant to treatments that help other people. Patients frequently report feeling dismissed or disbelieved before receiving an accurate diagnosis.
The experience varies significantly depending on the underlying condition and the nerves or tissue involved. The following patterns appear consistently across patients living with chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain.
Burning, searing, or electric shock-like sensations that occur without an obvious trigger
Persistent aching or throbbing in the affected limb or region that does not respond to standard pain relief
Allodynia -- pain triggered by stimuli that should not be painful, such as light touch, clothing, or a gentle breeze
Hyperalgesia -- an exaggerated pain response to stimuli that would normally cause only mild discomfort
Numbness, tingling, or a pins and needles sensation that is constant or recurring
Pain that is significantly worse at night, disrupting sleep and recovery
Muscle weakness or loss of coordination in the affected area
Pain that has persisted for months or years despite medications, procedures, and other interventions
A pattern of partial relief followed by return or worsening of symptoms over time
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For many patients, the most exhausting aspect of chronic pain is not any single symptom but the cumulative weight of a condition that never fully lets go. Work becomes difficult or impossible. Relationships are strained. Sleep is fragmented. Activities that once brought pleasure become harder to access.
If you recognize this pattern and standard treatment has not provided lasting relief, a clinical inquiry with Hemostemix may help determine whether investigational research evaluation is appropriate for your situation.
Why Chronic Neuropathic and Ischemic Pain Happens
Chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain rarely develops without cause. In the conditions being studied under the ACP-01 investigational pain protocol, the underlying driver is almost always damage to nerve tissue, compromised blood supply to the nerves themselves, or both. Understanding what is causing the pain is what makes it possible to identify whether standard treatment approaches are even capable of addressing it.
Why Chronic Neuropathic and Ischemic Pain Happens
Chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain rarely develops without cause. In the conditions being studied under the ACP-01 investigational pain protocol, the underlying driver is almost always damage to nerve tissue, compromised blood supply to the nerves themselves, or both. Understanding what is causing the pain is what makes it possible to identify whether standard treatment approaches are even capable of addressing it.
Nerve Damage from Diabetes
Diabetic polyneuropathy is one of the most common causes of chronic neuropathic pain worldwide. Chronically elevated blood sugar damages the small blood vessels that supply the peripheral nerves, a network called the vasa nervorum. When those vessels are compromised, the nerves are starved of oxygen and begin to malfunction. The result is burning, tingling, numbness, and pain that progresses over time and does not resolve with pain medication alone.
Ischemia and Vascular Disease
When blood flow to the extremities is reduced by arterial disease, the nerves in the affected tissue are among the first structures to suffer. Ischemic neuropathy develops when nerves lose their blood supply and begin to deteriorate. Patients with peripheral arterial disease and chronic limb-threatening ischemia frequently experience neuropathic pain as a direct consequence of the same vascular deficit that affects their limbs.
Nerve Damage from Prior Injury, Trauma, or Amputation
Physical trauma to nerves, whether from spinal cord injury, surgery, or amputation, can disrupt normal signal transmission in ways that produce chronic pain long after the original injury has stabilized. In spinal cord injury, this disruption does not produce silence. For many patients it produces persistent, debilitating pain that is poorly managed by available pharmacological options. For patients who have undergone amputation, pain perceived in the absent limb is neurologically real, chronic, and similarly resistant to standard treatment approaches.
Nerve Damage Following Infection or Cancer Treatment
Some external events damage peripheral nerves in ways that outlast the original trigger by months or years. Following a shingles outbreak, some patients develop persistent nerve pain in the affected area that continues long after the infection has resolved. Standard treatments may reduce the signal for some patients but do not address the underlying nerve damage driving it. Similarly, certain chemotherapy agents damage peripheral nerves as a consequence of treatment. This damage can persist in cancer survivors long after therapy has ended, producing chronic burning, numbness, and pain for which no FDA-approved treatment currently exists.
Inflammatory and Structural Nerve Compression
Chronic inflammation of the structures surrounding the spinal cord, or structural conditions that place progressive pressure on neural tissue, can damage nerves over time in ways that produce severe and often treatment-resistant pain. Arachnoiditis, inflammation of the arachnoid membrane surrounding the spinal cord, and syringomyelia, a condition in which a fluid-filled cyst forms inside the spinal cord, are two examples of this pattern. Both conditions produce chronic pain that has limited pharmacological or surgical treatment options and significant unmet need.
Injury-Triggered Pain Amplification
In some patients, an injury, surgery, or other triggering event produces a pain response that becomes disproportionate to the original event and self-sustaining over time. Complex regional pain syndrome is the most recognized presentation of this pattern. It is characterized by severe burning pain, changes in skin color and temperature, and extreme sensitivity to touch. The underlying mechanism involves dysregulation of the nervous system's pain processing pathways. No disease-modifying treatment currently exists for CRPS, and patients living with this condition represent one of the most underserved populations in chronic pain medicine.
Types of Chronic Neuropathic and Ischemic Pain
Chronic pain is not a single condition. It is a category that encompasses dozens of distinct diagnoses, each with its own underlying mechanism, patient population, and treatment history. The conditions below represent some of the most common and well-documented forms of chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain, presentations where the underlying cause is damage to nerve tissue, compromised blood supply to the nerves, or both, and where standard treatment frequently does not provide lasting relief.
ACP-01 is investigational and has not been approved by the FDA or Health Canada for any of the conditions listed below. This content is for educational purposes only.
Types of Chronic Neuropathic and Ischemic Pain
Chronic pain is not a single condition. It is a category that encompasses dozens of distinct diagnoses, each with its own underlying mechanism, patient population, and treatment history. The conditions below represent some of the most common and well-documented forms of chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain, presentations where the underlying cause is damage to nerve tissue, compromised blood supply to the nerves, or both, and where standard treatment frequently does not provide lasting relief.
ACP-01 is investigational and has not been approved by the FDA or Health Canada for any of the conditions listed below. This content is for educational purposes only.
Diabetic Polyneuropathy
Nerve damage affecting multiple peripheral nerves as a result of chronically elevated blood sugar. It is the most common cause of neuropathic pain in the United States, affecting an estimated 20 million Americans. Burning pain, numbness, and tingling in the feet and legs are the hallmark symptoms. The underlying driver is microvascular damage to the vasa nervorum, the small blood vessels that supply the peripheral nerves. This microvascular mechanism is directly consistent with the angiogenic approach being studied under the ACP-01 investigational protocol. For many patients with diabetic polyneuropathy, available medications reduce the pain signal but do not address the underlying vascular damage driving it.
Ischemic Neuropathy and Phantom Limb Pain
Ischemic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by insufficient blood supply to peripheral nerves. The underlying mechanism is the same vascular deficit that drives tissue damage in peripheral arterial disease and chronic limb-threatening ischemia -- except the primary injury is to nerve tissue rather than skin and muscle. Patients with peripheral arterial disease frequently carry concurrent ischemic neuropathy, making this a natural dual-presentation that may be assessed through a single clinical evaluation.
For patients who have lost a limb to peripheral arterial disease or chronic limb-threatening ischemia, pain perceived in the absent limb is neurologically real, chronic, and resistant to most available treatments. This presentation, phantom limb pain, shares the same vascular origin as ischemic neuropathy and occurs in a population already living with the consequences of advanced arterial disease. Both presentations reflect the same underlying failure of nerve perfusion and represent a direct extension of ACP-01's existing investigational vascular patient base.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS Types I and II)
A severe chronic pain condition that develops following injury, surgery, or another triggering event. CRPS produces burning pain, changes in skin color and temperature, and extreme sensitivity to touch that is profoundly disabling and frequently disproportionate to the original injury. CRPS Type I develops without a confirmed nerve injury. CRPS Type II develops following a confirmed nerve injury. No disease-modifying therapy currently exists for either type.
An estimated 200,000 Americans are living with CRPS at any given time. Patients with CRPS are among the most motivated and underserved in all of chronic pain medicine. Many have been through multiple interventions including nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and physical rehabilitation without achieving lasting relief. The absence of any approved disease-modifying treatment makes investigational evaluation a rational next step for patients whose condition has not responded to the full range of available options.
Postherpetic Neuralgia and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
These two conditions share a critical commonality: both are caused by external events that damage peripheral nerves in ways that outlast the original trigger, and neither has an FDA-approved disease-modifying treatment.
Postherpetic neuralgia is persistent nerve pain that develops after a shingles outbreak and remains long after the infection has resolved. Approximately one million new shingles cases occur in the United States each year, and a significant portion of those patients develop postherpetic neuralgia that does not respond adequately to standard treatment. Available medications including gabapentin, pregabalin, and lidocaine patches may reduce symptoms for some patients but do not address the underlying nerve damage.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage caused by certain chemotherapy agents that persists in cancer survivors long after treatment has ended. Millions of cancer survivors in the United States live with ongoing burning, numbness, and pain in their hands and feet as a direct consequence of treatment. There is currently no FDA-approved treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
The ACP-01 investigational pain protocol includes a broader range of neuropathic pain diagnoses than those listed on this page. The four presentations above represent those where the mechanism fit with ACP-01's investigational angiogenic approach, the absence of adequate existing treatment, and the clarity of unmet patient need are strongest. Additional conditions included in the protocol are available for discussion during the clinical inquiry process.
ACP-01 is investigational and has not been approved by the FDA or Health Canada for any indication. Participation in investigational research is not a guarantee of benefit. Individual results in any study may vary.
How Neuropathic and Ischemic Pain Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain requires more than confirming that pain is present. It requires understanding where the pain originates, what is driving it, and why it has not responded to standard treatment. That distinction is what separates a management plan that addresses the surface from one that targets the underlying cause. For many patients, receiving an accurate diagnosis is itself a lengthy and frustrating process, one that involves multiple specialists, repeated testing, and results that frequently appear normal despite significant ongoing pain.
Clinical History and Pain Assessment
The diagnostic process begins with a detailed conversation about when the pain started, what it feels like, where it is located, what makes it better or worse, and what treatments have already been tried. Clinicians use validated pain scoring tools to quantify severity and track changes over time. A thorough history often reveals patterns that point toward a neuropathic or ischemic origin that previous evaluations may have missed or underweighted.
Neurological Examination
A structured physical examination assesses sensation, reflexes, muscle strength, and coordination in the affected areas. Changes in light touch, temperature perception, vibration sense, and pain response help map the distribution of nerve involvement and distinguish between central and peripheral neuropathic pain presentations. Findings from the neurological examination guide the selection of further diagnostic testing.
Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography
Nerve conduction studies measure the speed and strength of electrical signals traveling through peripheral nerves. Electromyography assesses the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. Together these tests identify where along the nerve pathway damage or dysfunction is occurring and how severe it is. They are particularly valuable in evaluating diabetic polyneuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Specialized Sensory Testing and Skin Biopsy
Some forms of peripheral nerve damage do not appear on standard nerve conduction studies. Quantitative sensory testing measures how the nervous system responds to controlled stimuli including temperature, vibration, and pressure, and can detect small fiber nerve damage that conventional testing misses. A skin punch biopsy, a minimally invasive procedure that samples a small piece of skin, allows direct assessment of small nerve fiber density in the tissue. Reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber density is an objective indicator of peripheral nerve damage and is particularly useful for patients whose symptoms are significant but whose standard nerve tests have returned normal results.
Vascular Assessment
For patients whose pain has an ischemic component, vascular testing is an essential part of the diagnostic picture. Ankle-brachial index testing, toe pressure measurements, and duplex ultrasonography assess whether reduced blood flow to the extremities is contributing to nerve damage and pain. Patients with peripheral arterial disease or chronic limb-threatening ischemia who also experience neuropathic pain symptoms should receive vascular assessment as part of their diagnostic workup. Identifying the vascular component of the pain presentation is critical to understanding whether the underlying mechanism is addressable through approaches beyond standard pain management.
Imaging
MRI of the brain or spinal cord is used to identify structural sources of central neuropathic pain including syringomyelia, Chiari malformation, spinal cord injury changes, and lesions associated with neurological conditions. Imaging helps confirm the anatomical source of pain and rules out conditions that require surgical or oncologic management before any other pathway is considered. For patients with complex regional pain syndrome, imaging may also be used to assess bone and soft tissue changes associated with the condition.
The Diagnostic Challenge
One of the most consistent experiences among patients with chronic neuropathic pain is the length of time it takes to receive an accurate diagnosis. Because the pain is often invisible on standard imaging and does not follow a predictable pattern, patients are frequently told their results are normal long after the underlying nerve damage is well established. A thorough diagnostic workup that includes both neurological and vascular assessment is essential for understanding what is actually driving the pain and identifying which approaches have a realistic chance of addressing it. Patients who have been told their tests are normal but whose pain persists should seek evaluation from a specialist with experience in neuropathic and ischemic pain presentations.
How Chronic Pain Progresses Over Time
Chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain rarely stays the same. Without intervention that addresses the underlying cause, these conditions tend to worsen over time. The nerves continue to deteriorate, the vascular deficit deepens, and the pain becomes harder to manage and more disruptive to daily life. Understanding this trajectory helps patients recognize where they are in that progression and why earlier evaluation matters.
Stage 1: Intermittent Symptoms That Are Easy to Dismiss
Pain appears occasionally and remains manageable. Tingling in the feet after a long day. Burning that comes and goes. Discomfort that seems tied to activity or position. At this stage patients frequently attribute symptoms to fatigue, aging, or a minor injury. The underlying nerve damage may already be present but the body is still partially compensating. Symptoms at this stage are easy to dismiss and are frequently not brought to medical attention until they become more consistent.
Stage 2: Symptoms Become Consistent and Disruptive
Pain is now present most days. It interferes with sleep, concentration, and the ability to perform routine tasks. Patients begin modifying their behavior to accommodate the pain, avoiding activities that trigger or worsen it. Medical evaluation typically occurs at this stage, often resulting in a diagnosis and a first course of pharmaceutical management. For some patients this intervention provides meaningful relief. For others it marks the beginning of a long search for adequate treatment.
Stage 3: Standard Treatment Loses Effectiveness
Medications that provided partial relief begin to lose effectiveness or produce side effects that are difficult to tolerate. Dosages are increased. New medications are added. Procedures are attempted. Some patients experience temporary improvement followed by return of symptoms. The treatment plan becomes increasingly complex while the underlying nerve damage continues to progress. This is the stage at which many patients first begin asking whether anything beyond standard management exists.
Stage 4: Significant Functional Loss
Pain is now a dominant feature of daily life. Work is difficult or no longer possible. Sleep is consistently disrupted. Relationships and social connection are strained. Patients describe withdrawing from activities and relationships they once valued. Depression and anxiety frequently develop as a consequence of sustained uncontrolled pain. The medical system has been engaged extensively and has not produced lasting relief. At this stage the gap between the life the patient had and the life they are living becomes very difficult to close through conventional means.
Stage 5: Conventional Options Exhausted
Available pharmaceutical options have been exhausted or are no longer tolerable. Procedures including nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, or surgical intervention have been attempted without durable benefit or have been determined inappropriate for the patient's clinical profile. A pain specialist has indicated that nothing further in the standard toolkit is available. This is the stage at which investigational evaluation becomes not just relevant but worth serious consideration. It is not a stage that defines what is possible. It is a stage that defines what the standard system has been able to offer, and where the conversation about what else may exist becomes appropriate.
How Chronic Pain Progresses Over Time
Chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain rarely stays the same. Without intervention that addresses the underlying cause, these conditions tend to worsen over time. The nerves continue to deteriorate, the vascular deficit deepens, and the pain becomes harder to manage and more disruptive to daily life. Understanding this trajectory helps patients recognize where they are in that progression and why earlier evaluation matters.
Stage 1: Intermittent Symptoms That Are Easy to Dismiss
Pain appears occasionally and remains manageable. Tingling in the feet after a long day. Burning that comes and goes. Discomfort that seems tied to activity or position. At this stage patients frequently attribute symptoms to fatigue, aging, or a minor injury. The underlying nerve damage may already be present but the body is still partially compensating. Symptoms at this stage are easy to dismiss and are frequently not brought to medical attention until they become more consistent.
Stage 2: Symptoms Become Consistent and Disruptive
Pain is now present most days. It interferes with sleep, concentration, and the ability to perform routine tasks. Patients begin modifying their behavior to accommodate the pain, avoiding activities that trigger or worsen it. Medical evaluation typically occurs at this stage, often resulting in a diagnosis and a first course of pharmaceutical management. For some patients this intervention provides meaningful relief. For others it marks the beginning of a long search for adequate treatment.
Stage 3: Standard Treatment Loses Effectiveness
Medications that provided partial relief begin to lose effectiveness or produce side effects that are difficult to tolerate. Dosages are increased. New medications are added. Procedures are attempted. Some patients experience temporary improvement followed by return of symptoms. The treatment plan becomes increasingly complex while the underlying nerve damage continues to progress. This is the stage at which many patients first begin asking whether anything beyond standard management exists.
Stage 4: Significant Functional Loss
Pain is now a dominant feature of daily life. Work is difficult or no longer possible. Sleep is consistently disrupted. Relationships and social connection are strained. Patients describe withdrawing from activities and relationships they once valued. Depression and anxiety frequently develop as a consequence of sustained uncontrolled pain. The medical system has been engaged extensively and has not produced lasting relief. At this stage the gap between the life the patient had and the life they are living becomes very difficult to close through conventional means.
Stage 5: Conventional Options Exhausted
Available pharmaceutical options have been exhausted or are no longer tolerable. Procedures including nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, or surgical intervention have been attempted without durable benefit or have been determined inappropriate for the patient's clinical profile. A pain specialist has indicated that nothing further in the standard toolkit is available. This is the stage at which investigational evaluation becomes not just relevant but worth serious consideration. It is not a stage that defines what is possible. It is a stage that defines what the standard system has been able to offer, and where the conversation about what else may exist becomes appropriate.
Current Treatment for Chronic Pain
Treatment for chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain focuses on reducing the pain signal, improving function, and managing the psychological impact of living with persistent pain. For most patients the approach is multimodal, combining medications, procedures, and supportive therapies. The fundamental limitation of current treatment is that none of these approaches address the underlying nerve damage or vascular deficit driving the pain. They manage what the patient feels without changing what is causing it.
Anticonvulsants and Antidepressants
Gabapentin, pregabalin, and certain tricyclic and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medications for neuropathic pain. They work by modulating abnormal nerve signaling rather than targeting the source of damage. They are effective for many patients and inadequate for others.
Topical Agents
Lidocaine patches and capsaicin preparations can reduce localized neuropathic pain without systemic side effects. They are useful adjuncts for some patients, particularly those with postherpetic neuralgia or focal neuropathic presentations.
Their effect is limited to the surface area of application and does not extend to deeper nerve structures.
Opioid Therapy
Opioids are sometimes prescribed for chronic neuropathic pain when other options have not provided adequate relief. Evidence for their long-term effectiveness in neuropathic pain specifically is limited, and the risks of dependence, tolerance, and side effects are significant. Current clinical guidelines generally reserve opioids for carefully selected patients as part of a broader multimodal plan rather than as a primary or standalone approach.
Nerve Blocks and Interventional Procedures
Targeted injections of local anesthetic or corticosteroid around specific nerves or nerve clusters can provide temporary relief for some neuropathic pain presentations. Sympathetic nerve blocks are used in CRPS. Epidural injections are used for spinal pain. The relief these procedures provide is frequently temporary, and repeated procedures carry cumulative risk. They do not modify the underlying nerve damage or restore the vascular environment the nerves depend on.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
An implanted device delivers low-level electrical impulses to the spinal cord to interrupt pain signaling. Spinal cord stimulation is used for CRPS, failed back surgery syndrome, and certain peripheral neuropathy presentations. It provides meaningful relief for a subset of patients when it works. It does not halt nerve deterioration, does not address underlying vascular deficits, and requires ongoing management of implanted hardware.
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Structured rehabilitation addresses the functional consequences of chronic pain, helping patients maintain strength, mobility, and independence where possible. Desensitization techniques are used in CRPS. Graded motor imagery and mirror therapy have shown benefit for phantom limb pain and CRPS in some patients. These approaches can improve quality of life and functional capacity but do not resolve the underlying nerve damage or vascular deficit generating the pain.
When Patients Explore Investigational Options
For some patients with chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain, there comes a point where the medical system has done everything it can and the pain remains. Every medication class has been tried. Every appropriate procedure has been attempted. A pain specialist has indicated that nothing further is available in the standard toolkit. And the pain is still there, every day, shaping every decision and limiting every possibility.
That moment is one of the most isolating experiences in medicine. Not because the care was inadequate, but because the underlying biology has outpaced what existing treatments are designed to address. Standard pain management was built to reduce the signal. It was not built to repair the nerve damage or restore the vascular environment that is generating it. For patients whose pain originates in ischemic or structurally damaged nerve tissue, that gap is the reason treatment has not worked. It is not a personal failure. It is a gap in what currently exists.
That is the patient population investigational clinical research is designed to serve.
Why Patients Begin Looking Further
Patients with chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain may consider investigational evaluation when one or more of the following applies: pain has persisted for a year or more despite appropriate multimodal treatment; multiple medication classes have been tried without providing lasting relief; interventional procedures including nerve blocks or spinal cord stimulation have not produced durable benefit; a pain specialist or neurologist has indicated that no additional conventional intervention is available; or the functional and psychological impact of the pain has reached a level that significantly affects daily life.
Seeking investigational evaluation is an informed decision. It is made by patients who understand their condition, have engaged fully with available treatment, and want to understand whether research participation may be appropriate for their clinical profile.
If you or someone you love is living with chronic neuropathic or ischemic pain that has not responded to conventional treatment, the next step is a conversation. Our team reviews each inquiry individually and is committed to honest, transparent communication about what the investigational research process involves and what it does not.
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Hemostemix's Investigational Approach
ACP-01 is an investigational autologous angiogenic cell therapy derived from a patient's own blood. Because the cells are derived from the patient's own body, the risk of immune rejection is significantly reduced and no donor matching is required. ACP-01 is being studied across multiple ischemic and neuropathic pain conditions for its potential to support vascular repair, improve nerve perfusion, and address the microvascular deficit that underlies many forms of chronic neuropathic pain.
Hemostemix's Investigational Approach
ACP-01 is an investigational autologous angiogenic cell therapy derived from a patient's own blood. Because the cells are derived from the patient's own body, the risk of immune rejection is significantly reduced and no donor matching is required. ACP-01 is being studied across multiple ischemic and neuropathic pain conditions for its potential to support vascular repair, improve nerve perfusion, and address the microvascular deficit that underlies many forms of chronic neuropathic pain.
What ACP-01 Is
ACP-01 is an investigational autologous angiogenic cell therapy derived from a patient's own blood. Because the cells are derived from the patient's own body, the risk of immune rejection is significantly reduced and no donor matching is required. ACP-01 is being studied across multiple ischemic and neuropathic pain conditions for its potential to support vascular repair, improve nerve perfusion, and address the microvascular deficit that underlies many forms of chronic neuropathic pain.
How It Works
The process involves a standard blood draw, laboratory isolation and preparation of the angiogenic precursor cells, and reinjection into the area of ischemia using catheter-based techniques. No general anesthesia is required. Recovery time varies by individual.
What It Is and What It Isn't
ACP-01 is not an approved treatment. It is not a replacement for ongoing pain management or medical care. It does not guarantee specific outcomes. It is a structured, science-driven pathway for patients with chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain who have exhausted standard options and want to understand whether research participation may be appropriate for their clinical profile.
Hemostemix is currently accepting inquiries from patients with chronic neuropathic and ischemic pain conditions who have not found adequate relief through conventional treatment. The inquiry process begins with a clinical review of medical history, prior diagnostic workup, current pain presentation, and treatment history. This review is used to determine whether a patient's clinical profile is appropriate for further investigational evaluation under the research protocol.
A referral from a pain specialist or neurologist is not required to submit an inquiry. Patients are encouraged to keep their existing care team informed throughout the process, as prior clinical documentation is an important part of the evaluation.
Request A Clinical Research Consultation
Request A Clinical Research Consultation
If you are living with chronic neuropathic or ischemic pain that has not responded to conventional treatment, and you have been told that further intervention is not available through standard care, a clinical inquiry with Hemostemix may help determine whether investigational research evaluation is appropriate for your situation.
Our team reviews each inquiry individually. We are committed to honest, transparent communication about what the investigational research process involves, what it requires, and what it does not offer. There are no guarantees associated with investigational research participation. What we can offer is a thorough, individualized review of your clinical history and a clear conversation about whether the protocol is appropriate for your profile.
The next step is a conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between acute pain and chronic pain?
Acute pain is a normal biological response to injury or illness that resolves as the underlying cause heals. Chronic pain persists beyond the expected healing period, typically defined as three months or longer. In neuropathic and ischemic pain conditions, the pain is not a signal that healing is still occurring. It is the result of damage to the nerves or their blood supply that has not been reversed by standard treatment.
How do I know if my pain is neuropathic?
Neuropathic pain has characteristic features that distinguish it from other pain types. Burning, electric shock-like, or shooting sensations are common. Pain triggered by stimuli that should not be painful, such as light touch or clothing against the skin, is a hallmark sign. Numbness and tingling that coexists with pain is another indicator. A neurologist or pain specialist can confirm a neuropathic diagnosis through clinical examination and appropriate testing.
I have been managing my pain for years. Is it too late to explore investigational options?
The ACP-01 investigational pain protocol is designed for patients with established chronic pain who have not found adequate relief through conventional treatment. A longer pain history does not automatically disqualify a patient from investigational evaluation. Each inquiry is reviewed individually to determine whether the clinical profile is appropriate for the research protocol. Patients who have been managing chronic neuropathic or ischemic pain for an extended period are encouraged to submit an inquiry so their situation can be assessed on its own merits.
Does ACP-01 treat the pain directly?
ACP-01 is not a pain medication and is not designed to block or suppress the pain signal. It is an investigational angiogenic cell therapy being studied for its potential to improve blood supply to ischemic and damaged nerve tissue. The hypothesis is that by improving the vascular environment surrounding compromised nerves, the underlying conditions driving the pain may be addressed rather than just managed at the surface.
What conditions are included in the ACP-01 pain protocol?
The conditions highlighted on this page -- diabetic polyneuropathy, ischemic neuropathy and phantom limb pain, complex regional pain syndrome, postherpetic neuralgia, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy -- represent those where the mechanism fit, absence of adequate existing treatment, and clarity of unmet patient need are strongest. The full investigational protocol includes additional neuropathic pain diagnoses beyond those covered here. Patients whose condition is not listed on this page are welcome to submit an inquiry. Protocol eligibility is determined through individual clinical review, not by condition name alone.
Is ACP-01 approved for chronic pain?
No. ACP-01 is investigational and has not been approved by the FDA, Health Canada, or any other regulatory authority for the treatment of chronic pain or any other condition.
What does the evaluation process involve?
Investigational evaluation begins with a clinical review of your medical history, prior diagnostic workup, current pain presentation, and treatment history. Our team uses this information to determine whether your clinical profile meets the criteria for research participation and to discuss what the process would involve if you proceed.
Do I need a referral from my pain specialist or neurologist?
A referral is not required to begin the inquiry process. You can contact Hemostemix directly. We encourage you to keep your existing pain management team informed, as they hold important clinical history that helps our team understand your situation accurately and ensures your ongoing care is not disrupted.
Can I continue my current pain medications during the evaluation process?
In most cases, yes. Investigational evaluation does not require patients to discontinue existing pain management. Protocol-specific requirements would be reviewed and discussed during the clinical evaluation process. Our team will provide clear information about what is and is not required at each stage.
What makes ACP-01 different from other treatments I have already tried?
Most existing chronic pain treatments work by reducing or blocking the pain signal at various points in the nervous system. ACP-01 is being studied for a mechanistically distinct approach -- targeting the vascular deficit that may underlie ischemic and neuropathic pain conditions rather than the signal itself. Whether this approach produces benefit for any individual patient is what the research is designed to determine. ACP-01 is investigational, has not been approved by the FDA or Health Canada, and does not represent an established or proven alternative to existing treatment.
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