Study Reveals an Important Aspect About Chronic Pain Outcomes

(Newswire.net — October 19, 2022) Orlando, FL — Today, more and more people are struggling with chronic pain. Researchers have been increasingly carrying out studies to actually look into the various aspects of this condition. 

A study has shown that pain distribution can be utilized in assigning patients to distinct subgroups that are linked with differences in pain quality, pain intensity, pain impact, and clinically-relevant three-month outcomes.

The findings of this research were published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Benedict Alter of the University of Pittsburgh, US, and colleagues.

It is worth noting that in clinical practice, the bodily distribution of chronic pain is often utilized in conjunction with other signs and symptoms for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment.

Recent work on fibromyalgia has shown that clinical pain syndromes believed to be distinct entities may share clinically-relevant features, particularly regarding the effect of pain distribution on outcomes. 

In this new study, the investigators looked into data on 21,658 patients observed at the seven pain management clinics of the University of Pittsburgh between 2016 and 2019. All of the subjects completed a pain body map, in which pain areas are selected on two side-by-side drawings of the front and back of the body, with 74 possible regions of pain. 

The electronic medical record contains other information on the pain, health, and outcomes of the patients who were 83 percent white, 60 percent female, 22 percent insured by Medicaid and 10 percent had at least one comorbidity.

Through the use of an algorithmic approach, the researchers found that how a patient reports chronic pain bodily distribution impacts almost all aspects of the pain experience. This particularly includes what happens three months later. 

“This emphasizes that chronic pain is a disease process and suggests that this facet of the chronic pain phenotype will be important for future developments in diagnosis and personalized pain management,” the authors said.

Chronic pain can be caused by various diseases, and these include arthritis. It is worth keeping in mind that conditions like arthritis may be debilitating, and even leads to disability. 

Today, there are many who use medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These pharmaceutical drugs work in temporarily easing pain and enhancing mobility. 

There are also safer alternatives like glucosamine, which is an amino sugar being widely studied on due to its anti-inflammatory benefits. 

Today, it is widely obtained through the use of formulas like VitaBreeze Glucosamine. This highly potent and pure supplement is known for its high potency and purity and is believed to be superior to other brands. (http://amazon.com/Glucosamine-Chondroitin-Turmeric-Dietary-Supplement/dp/B00DUMO9X4)