Chronic pain and regenerative medicine

Chronic pains is becoming an epidemic in modern times but there are only a limited number of pain centers fully capable of addressing chronic pain issues. There are at least 667,000 individuals with chronic pains to one pain center in USA. There is a growing need for identifying etiological factors causing the pain rather than just treating the pain itself if applicable. Robinson and Singh has identified three approaches to address chronic pain management. The curative approach is the most simple. The palliative approach serves to assist the rehabilitation of the patient such as when pain interferes with functions by providing temporary pain relief. The release of substance P and CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) can be affected by using a simple dextrose water solution injection (prolotherapy) on affected nerves in chronic pain syndromes. This technique forms part of the regenerative approaches which to many practitioners using this technique is simple and safe in contrast to pain medications whose side effect can be more detrimental than the original disease being treated. The other regenerative treatment used for chronic pain intervention is platelet rich plasma therapy. Regenerative injection therapies such as prolotherapy and platelet rich plasma might just be one solution that we are looking for in addressing chronic pain. As part of a team approach modality, these newer interventions may offer a pain cure and not just the treatment of pain itself.