The pain brain... how mind really can rule over matter

HE latest science suggests that a different form of AI - analgesic intelligence - could be the solution to the persistent pain problems which plague as many as 28 million people in the UK.

- BY CATHERINE FOREST

Because brain scans and neural mapping show that our minds really do matter when it comes to pain control, and that failing to get on top of pain can lead to permanent changes in our brain and pain pathways.

But the good news is that this emerging science around the way our brains respond to pain also points to new strategies and approaches which could provide better pain relief with fewer side effects.

Dr Nisa Aslam, a GP and advisor to Combogesic, a new over-the-counter, opioid-free pain relief medicine with a unique and clinically proven combination of 500mg paracetamol and 150mg ibuprofen, says: “Pain is one of the most common problems we see in general practice and it has a huge impact on a patient's overall wellbeing and quality of life.

“It's very exciting to see how new research is improving our understanding of pain pathways and paving the way for a more joined-up approach to pain management. It will also help us to unpick the recognised link between pain and low mood, and find new ways to use this knowledge to improve symptom relief.”

NOT ALL PAIN IS THE SAME

Doctors have always drawn a distinction between short-term, or acute, pain and more persistent and prolonged discomfort, which is often described as chronic pain. Acute pain often acts as a signal to seek help because something is wrong, or we have been injured, while chronic pain can linger long after the initial injury has healed.