Researchers have discovered a new molecule that reduces hypersensitivity in mice when bound to a specific protein known to cause neuropathic pain. This revolutionary, non-opioid approach to pain management could be a game-changer for those who suffer from chronic neuropathic pain.
Study Findings Explained
Researchers conducted the study on mice to determine if there was a specific compound that could safely reduce neuropathic pain. The scientists specifically wanted to find a long-term neuropathic pain treatment solution that did not involve opioids.A compound named FEM-1689 was found by the researchers that successfully bound to the proteins responsible for neuropathic pain, negating their pain signals and thus eliminating pain. These results are ground-breaking and the scientists are hopeful that they can use this compound to create a non-opioid drug that can be used for neuropathic pain management.
“ISR plays a major role in the development of neuropathy because it allows cells to respond to stress by adjusting their cellular functions. However, when this response is overtaxed or dysregulated, as is often the case in neuropathy, the way the cells react can contribute to symptoms generally associated with neuropathy like pain, numbness, and weakness.
“Being able to effectively target these undesirable pain responses presents a completely new world of treating neuropathic pain, and it’s completely outside of how other pain drugs, including opioids, work.”
Current Treatments for Neuropathic Pain
Despite that approximately 16 million Americans suffer from chronic neuropathic pain, it is considered one of the most difficult types of pain to treat. Neuropathic pain can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, including diabetes, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, or the cause may be unknown.
“Neuropathic treatment can vary a lot simply because of how many causes neuropathy can have, as well as the many different ways it can present in an individual. It always starts with identifying and addressing the root cause. Once we address underlying causes, we then focus on alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life.
“In line with all of these variables, between causes of neuropathy and symptoms experienced, there is a lot of variation in medication to help with neuropathy.”
Unfortunately, current treatment methods, which usually include opioids, are often ineffective or come with serious side effects, including addiction and overdose.“Over-the-counter pain medicines, like NSAIDs (ibuprofen) and acetaminophen, are often a go-to remedy chosen for milder cases of neuropathic pain, but these drugs can be extremely taxing on organs over the long term, namely the kidneys, liver, stomach, and heart.
“Opioids can be prescribed to help alleviate extreme cases of neuropathic pain, but this is usually reserved as a last resort due to the many risks of addiction and abuse of opioids.
“Other drugs such as anticonvulsants and antidepressants can also be effectively used to relieve nerve pain and neuropathy, and those drugs each present their own respective range of side effects. Many of the treatment methods that address neuropathic symptoms may affect quality of life, which is why addressing the causes of neuropathy is so important.”
Why Is Treating Neuropathic Pain so Difficult?
According to Dr. Pontinen:“Neuropathy is difficult to treat for a plethora of reasons, but I think what it really boils down to is the fact that it’s a bit of a code to crack in most cases. Finding the root cause, and addressing each symptom safely and effectively, all while coping with the everyday challenges is really quite difficult for patients and their doctors.
“I think most treatments end up being somewhat unreliable because they don’t directly address the integral processes within damaged cells that contribute to the dysfunction of neuropathy, but rather, they sort of play catch-up with the pain that’s already on its way to the brain.”
Many of the medical conditions that cause neuropathy ultimately cause some level of damage to the nervous system, effectively changing how the nerves send and receive pain signals. These “false” signals are sent to the brain and interpreted as pain, even when no illness or injury is present to justify the pain.“Not only do you not have an underlying cause to treat, but psychologically, it is much harder on the patient because they don’t understand why this is happening to them. In these scenarios, psychological and emotional support is just as important as physical (as is the case with many chronic pain conditions).”
Ultimately, Dr. Pontinen says that treating neuropathic pain takes time and involves much trial and error. He explains:“Neuropathy involves damaged or dysfunctional nerves, which are unique cells that we are constantly learning about. Treating neuropathy is a whole process and it has major implications in the life of the patient because chronic pain can be a major contributing factor to other illnesses and, increasingly important, mental illness.
“I think this study reflects that we haven’t yet maximized our potential in addressing the connection between neuropathy and the way cells respond to stress or trauma, and that might be the key to being able to tackle neuropathy with precision and efficacy.”
Copy
