Many of us do not consider pain until we experience it. Usually, we can overcome it in a few days or weeks. This was my experience until the summer of 2023. I woke up one day with pain in my arms without any clear reason. The pain was severe, affecting my ability to do everyday tasks like driving, cooking, typing, and even sleeping. Initially, I thought it was just bad luck, considering myself a healthy person involved in sports. However, as time passed with no diagnosis or treatment, I realized that chronic pain was more common than I had thought.
As my condition persisted, I began researching what scientists understand about chronic pain. I was surprised to learn how little we know about its origins. However, I also found out that we are on the brink of a revolution that is changing our perspective on chronic pain and how we treat it. (Read the full article in the magazine.)
Chronic pain is not just a symptom; it is a disease.
Previously, we believed that we might die in pain but not of it. Now, chronic pain is viewed as an illness in itself, often resulting from hyperactive or “sensitized” nerves. This can occur even after healing from an injury or for no apparent reason. Scientists now understand that chronic pain is a central nervous system disorder fueled by a complex interplay of genetic, endocrinological, and immunologic processes.
A quarter of the world’s population suffers from chronic pain.
In the United States, around 100 million individuals experience chronic pain, with up to two billion globally affected. Despite the significant impact of chronic pain, it receives far less funding compared to diseases like cancer and diabetes. There is no national center dedicated to chronic pain research. Nevertheless, researchers are making progress in understanding the mechanisms of pain and developing better treatment strategies.
Certain individuals are more prone to chronic pain.
Women are at a higher risk of developing chronic pain than men, with possible reasons being their increased susceptibility to autoimmune disorders and hormonal fluctuations that exacerbate pain. Developing chronic pain is not solely determined by the severity of an illness, as individuals with mild tissue damage can experience extreme pain while others with severe damage may feel minimal pain. Moreover, once someone experiences one type of chronic pain, they are more likely to develop another.
Researchers believe that chronic pain, like cancer, could have various genetic and cellular triggers that differ based on the condition and the individual’s unique characteristics.
New research could revolutionize pain treatment.
One obstacle in treating chronic pain has been the difficulty in objectively measuring pain levels. Unlike other conditions where physical signs can be easily observed, pain assessment relies mainly on self-reported scales. Recent advancements in technology allow researchers to analyze tissue samples from chronic pain patients at a cellular level to understand the underlying changes causing chronic pain. This knowledge enables the development of targeted drugs to address these specific changes. With improved imaging and computing capabilities, researchers can now identify the unique pain signatures of individual patients, potentially leading to personalized pain treatments similar to those in cancer care.
Specialized pain clinics offer tailored management.
Individuals with chronic pain often face stigma and inadequate support, as many healthcare professionals lack the training to address their needs. However, there is a growing recognition of the complexity of pain and the importance of personalized care. Specialized pain clinics provide a multidisciplinary approach involving physical therapy, counseling, specialized pharmacists, and neurologists to identify the root causes of pain and determine the most effective treatment strategies. While current tools may not fully capture nerve dysfunction or brain changes related to pain, advancements in personalized medicine offer hope for better pain management and reduced patient suffering.