Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine identified RGS4 as a key player in chronic pain conditions. Blocking RGS4 activity returned the nervous system to a calm state in experimental models, suggesting potential for new pain management therapies.
Researchers developed a novel approach to reduce neuropathic pain by targeting specific nerve cell interactions. By disrupting the interaction between voltage-gated sodium channels and ankyrin-G, they reduced pain-like behaviors in mouse models and paved the way for new therapeutics.
Researchers found that movement-evoked pain activates the brain's Default Mode Network (DMN), which is associated with self-reflection and identity. This suggests that treatments like mindfulness and psilocybin may be more effective than traditional symptom-based approaches in managing chronic low back pain.
A new study found that exercise can significantly reduce acute and chronic pain across various conditions, with shorter-duration programs delivering greater pain reductions. Exercise was associated with substantial reductions in pain, regardless of the type, intensity, or duration of exercise.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have identified TRPM2 as a direct pain transducer that amplifies chronic pain signals. Blocking TRPM2 with a drug injected into the joint completely reversed arthritis pain in mice, providing a promising new approach to treating chronic pain more effectively.
Researchers at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that BRAF plays a key role in developing and maintaining chronic nerve pain caused by nerve damage. Using BRAF inhibitors reduced pain sensitivity in preclinical models, suggesting therapeutic potential for treating chronic nerve pain.
Researchers have identified a biological brake in the brain that regulates chronic pain, a discovery that could lead to more effective treatments. By targeting specific receptors in the locus coeruleus region of the brain, scientists hope to develop new therapies that provide powerful relief for chronic neuropathic pain.
A swimming program improved function and pain in people with chronic low back pain, reducing disability by 50% compared to education alone. The benefit persisted at longer-term follow-up, showing a suitable exercise for managing chronic low back pain.
A study published in Anesthesiology found that nerve blocks do not cause nerves to become more sensitive or lead to worse pain after the block wears off. The researchers suggest that rebound pain is caused by the return of surgical pain as the block resolves, rather than hypersensitivity. This finding supports the continued use of nerv...
A research team at DGIST has identified TWIK-1 as a key regulator of touch sensation and chronic pain, providing a new understanding of the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain. The study suggests new therapeutic possibilities for selectively regulating pain persistence, offering hope for improved treatment options.
A new study from Boston Medical Center found that a group mindfulness program can effectively treat chronic low back pain. Participants showed significant improvements to pain and daily functioning after the program, with gains sustained at a 12-month follow-up.
A study by Edith Cowan University found that re-engaging in new goals is linked to higher mental wellbeing for people living with chronic pain. However, letting go of old goals did not improve wellbeing overall, especially for those with high pain interference.
A study published in Communications Biology found that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) exacerbates chronic pain and drives mirror-image pain after a stroke. The researchers used imaging mass spectrometry to visualize LPA and other molecules, revealing a sequential pathological process that leads to bilateral pain.
Researchers found that HIV-associated protein gp120 increases nerve receptor activity, leading to increased pain sensitivity. Targeting this mechanism with drugs or genetic approaches may alleviate chronic pain associated with HIV, and could also treat other conditions.
Researchers identified a potential new way to relieve chronic pain linked to neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Blocking MAPK signaling with a MEK inhibitor lowered GDNF levels in Schwann cells and reduced pain-like responses in mice.
A single dose of psilocybin reduces nerve pain for several weeks and makes gabapentin work more effectively. The study found that psilocybin resets the brain's pain networks, making existing treatments significantly more effective.
Researchers found that butyrate alleviates TMJ pain by reversing epigenetic and gene regulatory pathways in the brain. The study identified key genes and mechanisms involved in pain-related molecular pathways, providing new insights into the biological mechanisms of TMJ pain.
A new study suggests that ultrasound stimulation can bring about functionally meaningful changes in pain perception and brain connectivity. The research found a delayed analgesic effect, with participants reporting reduced pain intensity after 28-55 minutes following TUS application.
More than 50% of people with diabetes develop diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which causes painful sensations like burning, tingling, or shooting pains. The brain and spinal cord can also contribute to pain, as their pain-blocking systems are less effective in people with diabetes.
A large study found that individuals with difficulty recognizing and expressing emotions experience greater disruption to daily life from pain over time due to increased psychological distress. The study also suggests that addressing emotional processing difficulties may be key to improving long-term outcomes for people with chronic pain.
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals a connection between ADHD-related traits and chronic pain, highlighting the importance of addressing ADHD in pain management. The research suggests that treating ADHD may help reduce chronic pain severity.
A longitudinal study of 156 Ukrainian amputees found that most experience steady improvements in pain, anxiety, and depression over time. The study revealed distinct patterns of post-amputation pain, with phantom limb pain linked to psychological distress and residual limb pain linked to depression.
Research from the University of Kansas reveals that chronic pain is linked to higher rates of smoking and vaping, particularly among those with more severe pain. The study's findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing both chronic pain and tobacco use.
Researchers have mapped a brain circuit specific to chronic pain, suggesting a promising route to treatment. Silencing this circuit eased chronic pain while preserving acute pain responses in mice. The discovery raises the possibility of developing drugs that target this circuit to ease chronic pain without impacting acute pain.
A comprehensive review reveals that barren housing rewires pain biology, amplifying and prolonging it. In contrast, enriched environments support natural pain regulation mechanisms, enabling early detection of illness. This systematic underestimation of animal pain has significant implications for welfare assessment frameworks, analges...
A Concordia-led study reveals that many Canadian surgery residents scored below the threshold of adequate pain knowledge, with limited grasp of the biopsychosocial model and unpreparedness to treat pain in children. This highlights the need for improved medical training to address this critical gap.
Research suggests that persistent pain drives progressive changes in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in emotional regulation. This can shape whether people develop depression or remain emotionally resilient. The study's findings challenge the idea that depression is an inevitable consequence of long-term pain.
A team of researchers has developed a method to decode fluctuations in spontaneous pain intensity in individuals with chronic pain using extensively sampled functional MRI data. The study found that neural patterns underlying pain differ markedly between individuals, highlighting the importance of individualized brain-based biomarkers.
A new study from CU Anschutz links chronic back pain to heightened brain responses to everyday sounds and finds that Pain Reprocessing Therapy can improve sensory amplification. The research found specific brain changes associated with sound hypersensitivity, which can be treated with psychological therapy.
The UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry has secured a $9 million NIH grant to develop a targeted, non-opioid treatment for chronic pain associated with muscle and joint dysfunction. Researchers will map the biology of facial pain, identify specialized neurons, and analyze gene expression changes to design effective treatments.
The study found that opioids provide only small, time-limited pain relief for certain pain conditions, such as stomach pain and dental surgery. Regular use of opioids comes with a risk of harm, including dependence and overdose.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that female immune cells are less active, leading to delayed recovery from chronic pain. The study suggests that immune cells can be manipulated to produce signals that calm pain, paving the way for non-opioid treatments.
A study at Ruhr-University Bochum found that visceral pain induces stronger cognitive and empathic responses than somatic pain. Participants rated visceral pain as more intense and unpleasant, feeling more empathic concern for themselves and their loved ones.
Researchers have discovered a neural circuit hidden in an understudied region of the brain plays a critical role in turning temporary pain into chronic pain. Silencing this pathway can prevent or halt chronic pain, offering new hope for treating severe chronic pain with injections or infusions targeting specific brain cells.
Two new studies found that around 1 in 8 day-case surgery patients are admitted to hospital for complications, while 1 in 14 develop chronic pain at the operative site. Chronic post-surgical pain is more common in certain procedures and among patients with medical problems, with orthopaedic and breast surgeries showing higher rates.
Research reveals cannabis use may promote deep, restorative sleep critical for physical restoration and immune function, but at the cost of reduced emotional regulation and memory integration. Chronic cannabis users experience diminishing benefits as use increases.
Researchers found that IBD patients perceive pain as more unpleasant and intense due to fear learning, which is linked to the emotional component of pain. This suggests that psychological approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, should be investigated for treating chronic abdominal pain in IBD patients.
A novel approach to chronic pain management uses induced pluripotent stem cell-derived peripheral pain-sensing neurons to treat osteoarthritis joint pain. The therapy, SN101, sequesters inflammatory pain factors without transmitting pain signals, preserving joint tissues and relieving chronic pain.
A new study published in the Hypertension Journal found that chronic pain in adults may increase their risk of developing high blood pressure, with depression playing a significant role. The study analyzed data from over 200,000 adults and found that widespread pain was associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure.
A new study by Carnegie Mellon University's Wood Neuro Research Group uses advanced brain imaging and a digital visualization tool to better understand how pain is processed in the brain for people with sickle cell disease. The team found that patients had reduced connectivity across key brain networks linked to pain perception, partic...
Researchers at UC Irvine have identified a molecular mechanism controlling the transition from acute to chronic pain. A newly proposed formula, which includes a modified diet rich in deficient nutrients, showed promise in blocking this transition in mouse models.
A new study found that patients who continued spinal cord stimulation had similar mortality rates to the control cohort, suggesting successful pain management can avoid excess mortality. Spinal cord stimulation differs from long-term opioid therapy, which is addictive and increases mortality.
A new study from the University of Portsmouth found that individuals' ability to stay active despite pain depends more on their pain resilience than on how much pain they feel. Boosting resilience could enhance both pain management and overall health.
A study by UT Arlington researchers found that state welfare policies affect joint pain trends, with states like Colorado and Hawaii seeing significant increases. In contrast, Texas saw a decrease in the educational gap despite increased pain prevalence, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
A study led by Julie Pilitsis, MD, PhD, found a possible connection between chronic pain and eosinophilia, a white blood cell condition, in patients undergoing spinal cord stimulation or implanted pain medicine pumps. The study suggests that eosinophilia may be an immune biomarker for chronic pain.
Researchers have identified a group of cells called Y1 receptor-expressing neurons in the brainstem's lateral parabrachial nucleus as critical for regulating long-term pain states. These neurons integrate information about hunger, fear and thirst, allowing pain signals to be modulated by other brain circuits signaling more urgent needs.
A new study found that 2/3 people with chronic pain reach for comfort foods to cope, offering pleasure, distraction, and relief from negative emotions. However, this can lead to weight gain, which worsens pain and increases health risks.
A pooled data analysis found tramadol to be ineffective in easing chronic pain, with a small and clinically insignificant effect. The use of tramadol was also associated with an increased risk of serious side effects, including heart disease and certain cancers.
A new study at Bournemouth University found that people with horse experience were more accurate at recognizing pain in horse faces, while those with social anxiety were better at detecting pain in human faces. The findings aim to improve animal welfare by helping owners recognize changes indicating pain in horses.
Chronic back pain is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, depression, and other conditions. A study found that people with back pain are more likely to report severe activity limitations due to comorbidities.
Scientists at NYU Pain Research Center identified the EP2 receptor as the main cause of inflammatory pain but not inflammation. Blocking this receptor silenced pain responses without affecting inflammation, offering a new strategy for treating prostaglandin-mediated pain.
Researchers at UT Dallas discovered a connection between chronic sickle cell disease pain and the bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract. By transplanting beneficial bacteria into mice with sickle cell disease, they alleviated chronic pain, highlighting the role of gut microbiomes in driving chronic pain.
A study funded by the NIH found that acupuncture treatment significantly improved physical function and reduced pain in older adults with chronic low back pain, compared to usual medical care. The study showed a modest but positive effect of acupuncture on disability scores, anxiety symptoms, and pain intensity.
A new study published in Psychology and Health journal found that individuals with chronic pain experience higher levels of perfectionism and lower levels of self-compassion. Researchers suggest that increasing self-compassion and addressing perfectionistic tendencies may be beneficial for managing chronic pain.
Researchers found that improving diet quality reduced chronic musculoskeletal pain from 50% to 24%, while also decreasing pain-related quality of life. The study suggests that adopting a healthier diet may lead to meaningful reductions in pain and improve overall wellbeing.
A new study from UTS highlights the emotional and mental toll on teachers managing student pain in classrooms, finding educators often feel helpless, emotionally drained, and unsupported. The research identifies three key areas where pain science education can create meaningful change for both teachers and students.
A new Cochrane review has found no clear evidence of benefit for ketamine in treating chronic pain conditions. The review identified an increased risk of adverse effects such as delusions and vomiting. High-quality trials are needed to determine the role of ketamine in chronic pain care.
A randomized controlled trial found that cognitive functional therapy (CFT) can effectively reduce disability due to chronic low back pain for more than a year. The current trial is the first to show that these effects are sustained up to three years. CFT was shown to improve physical activity participation in patients with low back pain.
A study by the University of Exeter found that immersive VR nature scenes can reduce symptoms of long-term pain. Participants who felt more present during the experience experienced the strongest effects. The study suggests that nature scenes delivered using VR can help change how pain signals are transmitted in the brain and spinal cord.
A study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that Elenagen significantly reduced chronic osteoarthritis pain scores in dogs, achieving a 90% success rate. The therapy works by reprogramming aged or dysfunctional mesenchymal stem cells, which then produce anti-inflammatory signals and restore their regenerative capacity.