Sponsored: The National Institutes of Health Initiative Advancing Research on Chronic Pain
By National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health Initiative Advancing Research on Chronic Pain Researchers seek treatments for chronic pain
Today, new cases of chronic pain are more common than new cases of other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure. While opioid medicines have been a lifeline for many people to manage pain, they don’t always work for chronic pain and can present other health risks. Everyone feels pain differently, which means we need a range of strategies to safely and effectively manage chronic pain. Scientists are working on ways to create new medicines and devices and use other treatment options, such as acupuncture and physical therapy to help treat pain without the risks from opioids.
Arthritis doesn’t just inflame the joints; it affects the whole person. Pain from arthritis conditions can disrupt a person’s ability to work, take care of their family, and do things they enjoy. Pain from arthritis can also take a toll on emotional well-being.
“If you are living with chronic pain, you should know there is hope,” says William Renthal, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Harvard PRECISION Pain Center, in an interview with National Institutes of Health (NIH) staff. “There’s a lot of people like me . . . working hard to develop better treatments than we have today.”
A nationwide effort—known as the NIH HEAL Initiative® or HEAL—is supporting researchers across the country to address the urgent need for better and safer strategies for managing pain.
Tackling chronic pain from every angle
HEAL takes a comprehensive approach to research on pain, looking to better understand chronic pain, find how to measure it, and develop safe and effective ways to treat it. For example, HEAL-funded researchers have tested a wearable device that may help prevent and manage chronic low back pain. Another research team is trying to get the body to repair discs in the spine with injected stem cells. Researchers have also tested treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the wrists, using a device that stimulates the brain without having to perform surgery. They found that the device was safe, improved physical function, and reduced anxiety.
Scientists are also drilling down and studying genes, cells, and tissues to learn more about what causes pain and why some people suffer more than others.
HEAL-funded scientists created pain-sensing cells from human tissue using robotic equipment. They want to test drugs in these cells before studying them in people. The technology is already being used to research treatments for cancer- and diabetes-related pain. Scientists funded by the NIH HEAL Initiative are also testing potential pain medications in miniature versions of the liver, kidney, heart, muscle, and nerve cells created in the lab.
Researchers are looking for ways to help people feel better by testing non-opioid medicines and other strategies such as physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and social support. Not only can opioids cause side effects like nausea or constipation, but they can also pose other serious risks, including the possibility of dependence. Scientists are also developing safer, nonaddictive medications, including ones that work by targeting the body’s capacity to feel pain.
Making the causes of chronic pain visible
For people with chronic pain, it can be frustrating when doctors can’t pinpoint the exact cause of the pain, which is often hard to do using standard tools, such as X-rays or blood tests. This leads to delays in diagnosis and finding treatments that work well for individuals. That’s why HEAL-funded scientists are looking for signals in the body that would allow them to better understand why a person is feeling pain. These signals, which can help diagnose a health condition and predict response to treatment, are known as biomarkers.
HEAL researchers are committed to advancing research on pain management. They are working toward a future in which people have multiple safe and effective options for long-term pain relief. They are working to help people with chronic pain get the most out of their lives.