What Will Help Tracking Genetic Reasons For Neuropathic Pain

Today's post from sciencedaily.com (see link below) looks at a problem scientists have faced when confronted with the question: is neuropathy genetic? The problem is the lack of a standard approach to assessing its clinical characteristics (otherwise known as a 'phenotype'). However, recently there seems to have been a breakthrough and they have developed criteria which categorise what neuropathy 'looks like' genetically and clinically. It's thought that this will help in understanding how neuropathic pain develops, leading to new approaches to treatment and prevention. Hopefully this is the case and we can look forward to effective treatments reaching our doctors' prescription pads sooner rather than later.
 

Standard phenotypes will aid in genetic research on neuropathic pain 
Date:October 26, 2015 Source:Wolters Kluwer HealthSummary:

Research on the genetic factors contributing to neuropathic pain has been hindered by the lack of a standard approach to assessing its clinical characteristics or "phenotype." Now, a report from an expert panel published in the journal PAIN® presents a consensus approach to assessing the phenotype of neuropathic pain. The journal is the official publication of the Wolters Kluwer.

Standardized "entry level" criteria for defining the phenotype of neuropathic pain were developed by an international panel of experts assembled by the IASP's Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG). Along with other recommendations for research reporting, the consensus criteria will achieve "greater consistency and transparency in studies of neuropathic pain in adult humans." Dr. Blair H. Smith of the University of Dundee, Scotland, is lead author of the expert panel report.

Setting Standard Criteria to Define Neuropathic Pain Phenotypes

Neuropathic pain is a common and complex pain condition caused by damage or diseases of the sensory nerves. Patients may experience shooting or burning pain, numbness, or exaggerated pain responses. Neuropathic pain can be caused by diabetes, trauma, shingles, and a wide range of other conditions.

Information on genetic factors may help in understanding how neuropathic pain develops, leading to new approaches to treatment and prevention. But so far, genetic studies have produced inconsistent results that are difficult to confirm. This is partly because of differing approaches used to identify and classify the clinical expression and characteristics of this condition, which can vary widely.

To address this problem, the expert panel "aimed to provide guidelines on collecting and reporting phenotypes" of neuropathic pain. After a thorough review of previous research evidence, panel members followed a formal consensus process to develop a set of "entry level" phenotype data to identify and classify patients with neuropathic pain, as well as appropriate comparison (control) groups.

Following this process, the NeuPSIG panel identified three basic elements:
Pain with neuropathic characteristics (described as "hot/burning" or "evoked by light touch") or assessed using a validated screening tool
Pain distributed or located in a pattern that is anatomically consistent with underlying nerve damage or disease (in other words, the pain is consistent with the anatomy of the affected sensory nerves)
Additional information on pain history and characteristics and other factors relevant to the disease or group of patients being studied

Reflecting the challenges of diagnosing neuropathic pain, the report emphasizes that these "entry level" criteria identify only "possible" cases of neuropathic pain. Depending on the situation, additional criteria could be used to identify "probable" or "definite" cases, or additional sensory or psychological assessments could be conducted to further characterize the phenotype.

The new criteria are published as IASP concludes its 2014-2015 Global Year Against Neuropathic Pain campaign. By improving awareness among patients and health-care providers, IASP hopes to improve recognition and management of this disabling and difficult-to-treat condition.

The consensus phenotype criteria will be an important step toward a more productive approach to studying the genetic factors contributing to neuropathic pain, the NeuPSIG panel members believe. They conclude, "These improvements will facilitate advancements in the field by enabling collaboration between research groups, replication of discoveries of contributing genetic variants, meta-analyses, and translation from the laboratory to the general population, and back again."

Story Source:

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Wolters Kluwer Health. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Journal Reference:
Oliver van Hecke, Peter R. Kamerman, Nadine Attal, Ralf Baron, Gyda Bjornsdottir, David L.H. Bennett, Michael I. Bennett, Didier Bouhassira, Luda Diatchenko, Roy Freeman, Rainer Freynhagen, Maija Haanpää, Troels S. Jensen, Srinivasa N. Raja, Andrew S.C. Rice, Zeʼev Seltzer, Thorgeir E. Thorgeirsson, David Yarnitsky, Blair H. Smith. Neuropathic pain phenotyping by international consensus (NeuroPPIC) for genetic studies. PAIN, 2015; 156 (11): 2337 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000335

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151026132144.htm

Reasons Why Patients Should Join In With Social Media

Today's post from kevinmd.com (see link below) looks at the possibility of blogging for people living with chronic health issues. This blog also started for many of the same reasons described below and has grown into a large source of information for other neuropathy patients. I have learned so much from doing it and it has certainly provided a daily purpose in life to distract me from the ever-present neuropathy. Why not read Kevin Campbell's article and give it a go yourself - social media is not always intrusive; it can be very therapeutic as well.

4 reasons why patients should blog
KEVIN R. CAMPBELL, MD  JUNE 3, 2013

Social media has opened a whole new world for patients. Now, information about disease is readily accessible and available to everyone. Certainly, there are issues with reliability and accuracy of internet sources and this can create uneasiness and misunderstanding for both physician and patient.

However, the internet can also provide many new therapeutic possibilities. In particular, online support groups, twitter chats and blogging can provide a positive outlet for patients suffering with disease. Today, I want to focus on one of these Internet opportunities: the patient blog. Recently, a online article on iHealth Beat explored this concept of patient blogging and its benefits.

Just as commonly experienced in the climax and resolution phase of Greek tragedy, writing a blog about one’s experience as a patient can be cathartic. Patients with chronic illnesses or with a new diagnosis are often confused, frightened and angry. Numerous studies in the psychiatry literature have demonstrated that journaling or writing about one’s feelings and experiences can have a very positive effect on emotional health. Journaling has been shown to have several other unexpected benefits as well. In the age of the Internet and social media, journaling is now called blogging. Blogging can be a private posting (where only you or those you approve can see) or can be made public for anyone to see.

Blogging can have many benefits that are very similar to journaling. From a pure neuro-biological standpoint, while you are occupied with writing, the analytical left brain is engaged in the writing process. This allows the right brain to be free to feel, emote and create. In this setting, you are able to better understand yourself and the world around you. Specifically, there are four distinct benefits that patients can receive from blogging that I believe are worth mentioning:

1. Blogging helps to clarify thoughts and feelings. Often writing down our feelings provides a way for us to better organize our thoughts. Blogging can help patients with terminal illnesses better understand their disease and how they are reacting or adjusting to the challenges of the diagnosis and/or therapy.

2. Blogging helps you to get to know yourself better. Writing routinely will help you better understand what makes you happy and content. Conversely, writing will also help you better understand what people and situations upset you. This can be incredibly important when battling chronic disease. It is important that you are able to spend more time doing the things that make you happy and are able to identify and avoid things that are upsetting.

3. Blogging helps you to reduce stress. Patients who receive a diagnosis of a major illness or who suffer daily with the challenges of chronic disease often have a great deal of anger and resentment. It is human nature to ask questions such as “why me?”. Blogging about angry feelings can be a positive and therapeutic release of emotion. It allows for the writer to return from the blog more centered and better equipped to deal with negative emotion

4. Blogging helps unlock your creativity. Often we approach problem solving from a purely left brain analytical perspective. This is how we are taught throughout our education to attack problems in math and science in school. However, some problems are only solved through creativity and through the use of a more right brain approach. Writing allows the right brain to creatively attack problems while the analytical side of the brain is occupied with the mechanics of the writing process.

I believe that blogging can be just as important as medication compliance in patients with chronic disease. The diagnosis of a chronic disease can produce a great deal of stress and emotional angst. Patients who are able to deal with negative feelings and emotions in a more positive way are better suited to tackling their health problems.

As mentioned above, blogging has many benefits on our emotional health. By dealing with negative emotions and unlocking creativity, we are better able to deal with the realities of chronic disease and more effectively interact with friends and loved ones. I encourage everyone–patient, physician, family member or friend–to begin to blog. I expect that the health benefits of writing will be well worth the time in front of the computer screen and the insights that you may discover about yourself may be be life changing.

Kevin R. Campbell is a cardiac electrophysiologist who blogs at his self-titled site, Dr. Kevin R. Campbell, MD.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/06/4-reasons-patients-blog.html