Patient guide. Pain

During the past 20 years, the protective mechanism of pain has received a great deal of attention from the scientific community, with promising results for the millions of people whose lives are dominated by chronic discomfort. Many pain-causing problems are now better understood and, as a result, are more effectively treated. Progress in understanding the chemistry of the brain's own painkillers--the endorphins--has spurred research and production of new categories of medication, and various forms of self-help have become an important part of effective pain control.