Why can a bad knee hurt for years yet a paper cut only hurts for a moment?
According to a news study, the solution may be found deep within the brainstem, which could result in improved care for the millions of people who suffer from chronic pain.
The study, which was published in Science Advances, identifies a biological braking system in the brain that typically controls transient discomfort. However, this system seems to fail when pain becomes chronic, allowing pain signals to continue to be sent.
The medullary dorsal horn, a part of the brainstem that functions as a pain relay station was the subject of research. In this case, the brain receives pain signals from projection neurons.
The scientists discovered that these neurons actively reduce their own activity during brief inflammatory discomfort, much like slowing down the accelerator. However, this system seems to break down when pain becomes chronic, which usually lasts longer than three months. This makes the neurons even more excitable, which may be a factor in the pain's endurance.
This type of discovery gives hope for medicines that address the circuitry generating the pain rather than just dulling it for those who suffer from chronic pain, whether it be from migraines, cancer, arthritis, or back problems.
The A type potassium current IA was identified by the researchers as a crucial participant in this process by a mix of computer modeling and electrophysiological. By assisting a neuron in returning to a resting state following a firing, this electrical current often helps control how excitable a neuron is and avoid overactivity.
IA rises in acute pain, serving as a natural pain reliever. However, the scientists discovered that this current does not activate in chronic pain, and instead, the neurons become hyperactive.
Neurobiology expert Professor Alexander Binshtok stated, This is the first time we have witnessed how the same neurons act so differently in acute versus chronic pain.
The absence of this natural calming process in chronic pain points to a potential new therapeutic target. If we can reproduce or restore that brake mechanism, we might be able to prevent pain from becoming chronic.
The study's findings hold a lot of promise. Chronic pain affects one in five adults over 45 in Australia, making it difficult for them to live and work.
Nowadays, self-management strategies, physical therapy, medicine, and psychological therapies are used to retrain the brain's perception of pain.
However, rather than overriding the body's natural pain management systems, this study suggests more focused approaches.
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