By We have learned that by viewing the brain through imaging, we are able to gather information how brain interprets pain, as well as how their thoughts about pain influence their feeling.. There are number of researches conducting over the years on neuroimaging. Doctors are researching informations to become it more effective in helping patients with their chronic pain management.
Doctors studied and specialized in pain knew and learned more through the help of neuroimaging, but pain is not a one-size-fits-all label. Moreover, people are experiencing pain in different ways and various intensities. There are a lot of factors that can influence these variations. People experiencing chronic pain in different ways, it points to the fact there is also no one solution that is going to work for everyone in order to bring relief or for effective pain management.
Using magnetic resonance imaging and PET studies, scientists have been able to know the role of the brain pain processing. Such things that influence the pain processing in the brain include pain expectations, pain perception modification and the expectations of pain relief. In other words, what someone thinks about pain has influenced from how intense their pain may feel. But also, how effective treatment will be.
Over the years, many research studies have provided evidence of the benefits of using neuroimaging dealing with chronic pain management. Some studies have been used showing functional and anatomical differences between brains of individuals with chronic pain and acute pain. It has led to the first longitudinal brain imaging studies of chronic pain (1, 2).
With case studies it showed hat there are benefits using neuroimaging in chronic pain management. Like people who may be in pain but are unable to express the pain also with infants and people with dementia. Images of the brain may provide much-needed information regarding chronic pain that may not be able be obtained.
The new research using neuroimaging in chronic pain helps to clarify mechanisms also pain sensations. The information is important in chronic pain management for those who can express the feeling of pain. Together with those who do not have the ability to do so.
Sources:
- Baliki MN, Petre B, Torbey S, et al. Corticostriatal functional connectivity predicts transition to chronic
- Hashmi JA, Baliki MN, Huang L, et al. Shape shifting pain: chronification of back pain shifts brain representation from nociceptive to emotional circuits. Brain. 2013;136(Pt 9):2751-2768.
