About pain - what is being done
What is being done to help?
There has been an explosion of knowledge about pain and its treatment over the past 10 years, but much remains to be done for the many patients who continue to suffer persistent pain. The people who currently cannot be helped are in desperate need of the advances that current and future research can deliver.
The PMRI team approach
PMRI is conducting a multi-disciplinary basic and clinical research program involving over 40 scientists, which targets understanding the mechanisms of persistent pain as a disease. The research program aims to develop new treatments that specifically attack underlying abnormalities causing persistent pain to become a disease in itself, rather than a symptom.
New treatments and new research
New treatments for persistent pain will target the underlying problems rather than using pain medication, such as morphine, that purely provides symptomatic relief. This has an important advantage in restoring people to a normal range of everyday activities, without the troublesome side effects of current pain medications.
PMRI has a major research program investigating causes and treatments of spinal cord injury pain. A significant advance has been made in the development and clinical testing of a new drug (pregabalin) that acts on the calcium channels in the spinal cord.
These play a key role in the abnormal firing of spinal cord nerve cells, for example unpredictable episodes of shooting electricity-like excruciating pain. PMRI led a multi-centre research trial that proved that pregabalin is effective and safe, resulting in a major publication in the prestigious journal ‘Neurology.’
Other PMRI programs include studies of the mechanisms of tolerance to morphine-like drugs, which become ineffective with long-term treatment; studies of pelvic pain, such as bladder pain; and studies of orofacial pain.
PMRI clinical research includes development of new drugs taken by tablet or injection but also by a range of other routes including via the lungs (inhaled), via the skin (transdermal), and via the spinal route.
Psychological and environmental factors
A major focus of clinical research is on psychological and environmental factors in persistent pain with the aim of developing non-drug treatment that restore patient’s work, family, recreational and social activities. More information
The cost of severe pain
A key group comes out epidemiological research to determine the prevalence of various types of severe pain, their effects on patients and costs to the community. This group also examines factors associated with persistent pain. More information
The patient centered treatment model
Persistent pain has such profound effects on every aspect of a person’s life that a team of experts is needed to unravel this complex situation. Expert diagnosis frequently reveals problems to be addressed in multiple areas, including the physical, psychological and environmental (eg home, work etc).
Pain relief as a human right
An international consensus is emerging, led by PMRI Director Professor Michael Cousins, that pain relief should be a ‘Universal Human Right’. This was the theme of a WHO sponsored ‘global Day Against Pain’ in October 2004. Editorials on this subject by Professor Cousins have appeared in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA 2000;172:3-4) and in the journal Pain (Pain 2004;112:1-4).