Researchers believe that they have identified the part of the brain that handles chronic pain. It is the first time that research like this has been conducted, and the researchers believe that they can use this information to make the lives of those who suffer from chronic pain better.
The researchers recorded what chronic pain looks like within the brain for the first time by looking at individuals that have had an amputation or have suffered from a stroke.
When pain is caused because of damage to the nervous system, it becomes even more difficult to treat. Neuropathic pain also does not respond well to traditional treatment methods. The pain takes place within the brain itself, which is why people who have had an amputation suffer from phantom limb pain. Now that researchers have a better idea of why this is and what it looks like, a clearer path forward can emerge. Brain signatures give us a location to treat. It might hold the evidence needed to determine what the best course of action to treat it is.
Treating chronic pain might be easier moving forward due to research in brain signatures.
This research was conducted by the National Institute of Health in partnership with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. They published their findings in Nature Neuroscience.
Chronic pain impacts a large number of people, unfortunately. Seniors are impacted in a different way from younger folk, and just like any other issue that has been left unresolved for an extended period of time, chronic pain in seniors can be more difficult to find a helpful answer to.
But this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. Hopefully, this study and others like it–including those that will be conducted in the future–will help ensure that we have a better understanding of chronic pain and a more efficient method of helping to treat it. There are many different types of pain and each situation is unique, but hopefully this type of research can help doctors to make life better for those that are suffering. We’ve made great progress on this front over the last several years, but there’s still a long way to go if we’re going to help a greater number of people.
Chronic pain remains a significant public health issue. In the past, doctors often prescribed opioids to help alleviate the issue. The problem with this is that it was trading one problem for another. Opioid addiction and misuse had the potential to be deadly. It also proved to be ineffective for a lot of people over the long term.
Chronic pain is one of the biggest contributors to long term disability. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there that are impacted by this.
Our families deserve better than this. It all starts with awareness. Connection is the second step. Getting your family connected to the assistance that they need to thrive can help a lot. If you’re looking for a professional care service that understands these issues and can help your family in the way that it’s most needed, please feel free to reach out to us. One of our trained caregivers will be happy to talk more with you.
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