“Chronic pain is a widespread global health burden with insufficient therapeutic options which lead to an over-reliance on opioid painkillers which only give limited relief to patients with chronic (particularly neuropathic) pain, while potentially generating severe adverse effects, such as respiratory depression & addiction” [1]. But now, Pain Specialists are hailing a new discovery which could lead to non-opioid drugs without such side effects” [1]
Not Before Time
“The world is in the grip of a global opioid crisis & there is an urgent need for non-opioid drugs that are both safe & effective” [1]
Finally, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel for patients who suffer from chronic pain and the seriously unwelcome side effects of the medication that they are obliged to take. Now, medical researchers at Monash University have made a much needed breakthrough discovery which will hopefully set the way for the generation of cutting-edge non-opioid analgesics (painkillers) which can treat neuropathic pain safely and effectively.
The good news is that this study has empowered researchers to have a more in-depth understanding of the mechanisms which support certain types of drug actions. One of the scientists involved stated that: “One of the exciting things we found is that not only were these new kind of drugs able to decrease neuropathic [nerve] pain with minimal unwanted effects, but they actually increase their level of effectiveness as the pain signals in the spinal cord get stronger” [1].
Looking at Matters From A Pain Specialist’s Perspective
Experienced Pain Specialists offer patients a holistic Personalised Treatment Plan which involves both the latest cutting-edge and conventional treatments, including newly released breakthrough treatments. The doctors are however, extremely mindful of the limitation to the current pharmaceuticals. When they give a new patient consultation, they review the patient’s medical history, and ask them various questions pertaining to when they first started to experience any form of pain, and their symptoms.
To that end, if you book an in-person or online consultation to address your pain and get started on remedial treatment, then it is a good idea to compile a ‘Pain Diary’ beforehand. This should list 1: the times of day when your pain is at its worst, 2: when it is more moderate, and 3: what you are doing at these times, for example, getting up from a chair.
Reference
[1]. News Medical Sciences (2021). “Breakthrough discovery could pave the way for new non-opioid painkillers to treat neuropathic pain.”
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210908/Breakthrough-discovery-could-pave-the-way-for-new-non-opioid-painkillers-to-treat-neuropathic-pain.aspx
