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Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
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Chronic pain: breaking free from stickiness.
Shahrzad Firouzian1,2, Natalie R Osborne1,2
1Division of Brain, Imaging and Behaviour-Systems Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Pain Reports
|October 5, 2019
Summary
Treatment-resistant pain, or "pain stickiness," arises from neurobiological factors transitioning acute pain to chronic pain. Further research is needed to understand and eliminate this persistent pain phenomenon.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Chronic Pain Etiology
Background:
- Persistent pain, or "pain stickiness," is a complex condition.
- Treatment-resistant pain poses significant challenges in clinical settings.
- Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of chronic pain transition is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the neurobiological factors contributing to the transition of pain from acute to chronic.
- To introduce and define the concept of "pain stickiness" in the context of treatment-resistant pain.
- To highlight the need for further investigation into eliminating chronic pain persistence.
Main Methods:
- Neurobiological perspective on pain chronification.
- Conceptual framework development for "pain stickiness."
- Literature review and synthesis of contributing factors.
Main Results:
- Identified "pain stickiness" as a key concept in treatment-resistant pain.
- Highlighted neurobiological factors in acute to chronic pain transition.
- Acknowledged the influence of resilience, brain structure, sex differences, and environment.
Conclusions:
- "Pain stickiness" offers a novel neurobiological lens for understanding chronic pain.
- Multiple factors beyond neurobiology, including psychological and environmental, influence pain persistence.
- Eliminating "pain stickiness" remains an open and critical question for future research.
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