Chronic pain is a major issue, especially in older adults. Pain is uncomfortable, difficult to treat, and can lead to emotional issues along with the physical pain that is already present. This can make someone’s life a lot harder than it needs to be, which is why researchers have begun looking at the connection between acute–or temporary–pain and chronic, long term pain.
According to new research, chronic pain comes out of acute pain. Over time, there is physical trauma that occurs within the body and acute, temporary pain eventually becomes chronic over time. This can happen because of an injury, surgery, or some other health issue. Regardless of why it happens, the mechanism is the same.
The good news is, by understanding how chronic pain develops, doctors have a better chance of preventing it from happening. Already, researchers believe that they have found an enzyme that assists with the development of chronic pain. This substance, known as NAAA, is located in the spinal column. In a study that involved lab mice, when this enzyme was halted, mice were not as likely to progress from acute to chronic pain. The team proposed a new class of drugs–NAAA inhibitors–to help prevent the spread of chronic pain. Hopefully, this spurs on new research and allows more people in the future to live pain-free lives.
This research comes out of the University of California, Irvine. The team recently published their findings in the journal, Science Advances.
Both acute and chronic pain can have an incredibly detrimental impact on the quality of life that someone faces. Whether that pain lasts for a few days or for years, it’s never fun. Controlling pain in an effective and safe manner is important, and research that looks to help seniors live more enjoyable lives, especially as they age and things become a bit more difficult than they used to be.
Managing pain and related symptoms is only one part of aging gracefully. Having a care team that focuses on the other portions of senior care can help to fill in the gaps so that more than just one need is met. Whether you’re helping a loved one, a friend, or an acquaintance in your community get connected to the right resources, don’t forget that there are resources out there designed to help you get the information and assistance that you need.
We would love to be one of those resources for you.
Would you like to learn more about how in-home care can help someone suffering from chronic pain live a better life? While we might not be doctors, we’ve observed (and research has backed this up) that personalized care and increased human interaction can often help someone who is in pain begin to feel happier, become more active, and otherwise move toward a higher quality of life. We’ve seen this happen with many of the people that we work with. It’s not the perfect solution for everyone, but it is ideal for many.
If this is something that sounds like it might benefit your family, please get in touch. We’d love to talk more about what we do and how it might help your family.
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