chronic pain

Introduction

Chronic pain is a pervasive and complex condition that significantly impacts individuals and society. Unlike acute pain, which serves as a warning signal for injury, chronic pain persists beyond the normal healing process and can become a debilitating condition in its own right. Understanding the mechanisms, factors, and management strategies for chronic pain is crucial for developing effective treatments and improving patient outcomes.

Key Insights

Epidemiology and Impact:
- Chronic pain affects a significant portion of the population, with estimates suggesting that more than 30% of people worldwide suffer from it . It imposes a substantial personal and economic burden, affecting quality of life and increasing healthcare costs .
Transition from Acute to Chronic Pain:
- The transition from acute to chronic pain involves complex pathophysiological changes, including peripheral and central sensitization, and reorganization of neural pathways . Persistent pain activates secondary mechanisms that lead to conditions like allodynia and hyperalgesia .
Biopsychosocial Model:
- Chronic pain is influenced by a dynamic interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Psychological factors such as stress, depression, and anxiety play a significant role in pain perception and management . Social support and resilience factors can promote healing and reduce pain chronification.
Neural Mechanisms and Brain Changes:
- Chronic pain is associated with structural and functional changes in the brain, including cortical reorganization and alterations in neurotransmitter systems . These changes can affect emotional and cognitive functions, contributing to the persistence of pain .
Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments:
- Effective management of chronic pain often requires a multimodal approach, including pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, integrative treatments, and invasive procedures . Personalized treatment plans that address the specific pain mechanisms and patient needs are recommended.

Conclusion

Chronic pain is a multifaceted condition that requires a comprehensive understanding of its epidemiology, mechanisms, and management strategies. The transition from acute to chronic pain involves complex changes in the nervous system, influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Effective management necessitates a personalized, interdisciplinary approach that combines pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments to address the diverse needs of patients.

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Chronic pain: a review of its epidemiology and associated factors in population-based studies.

Chronic pain is a complex condition with a wide range of determinants, requiring targeted prevention and management strategies that consider biological, psychological, socio-demographic, and lifestyle factors.

When does acute pain become chronic?

Acute pain becomes chronic through discrete pathophysiological and histopathological steps, with prostaglandins, endocannabinoids, ion-specific channels, and scavenger cells playing key roles in the transformation.

Towards a theory of chronic pain

Chronic pain is a complex, brain-based condition influenced by various factors, including brain reorganization and learning and memory, and can be reformulated within the context of learning and memory for novel pharmacotherapies.

Chronic pain.

Chronic pain in children is often influenced by physical and subjective factors, with recurrent pain syndromes often involving psychological factors.

Chronic pain: an update on burden, best practices, and new advances

Chronic pain is a disease with treatment implications, and a personalised multimodal, interdisciplinary approach can promote healing and reduce pain chronification.

Predicting transition to chronic pain.

Strength of synchrony between the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens in the brain predicts the transition to chronic pain, with potential for developing novel therapeutics to prevent pain chronification.

The Management of Persistent Pain in Older Persons

Persistent pain in older adults is common and often undertreated, with multifactorial causes and varying pain expressions.

Mechanisms of chronic pain.

Chronic pain is a complex, multilayered process involving peripheral nociceptors, spinal cord, and higher nervous system centers, with various factors influencing its perception and impact on daily activities.

Pharmacology of chronic pain.

Chronic pain is caused by complex changes in nociceptive pathways, and managing these molecular changes can improve pain management.

Chronic Pain: Structural and Functional Changes in Brain Structures and Associated Negative Affective States

Chronic pain is associated with structural and functional changes in brain structures, negative affective states, and neurotransmitter families, highlighting the need for future therapeutic approaches to manage chronic pain.

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