WELCOME

THE ADVANCED PAIN DISCOVERY PLATFORM (APDP)

Despite world leading research, the problem of pain still blights the lives of far too many people in the UK. In this issue we introduce the Advanced Pain Discovery Platform and tell how this will revolutionise research and benefit patients

THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IN PAIN RESEARCH

The image of an outstretched hand of someone living with pain demonstrates the hope that this research brings for people living with pain. Artists, Emma Rankin and Angela Gillies are Masters students in Art, Science & Visual Thinking at the University of Dundee. They created the image in this article, and they are working with the PAINSTORM team to create artwork for the project

ALLEVIATE DATA HUB: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PATIENT ENGAGEMENT

Chronic pain research is vital in order to understand the causes of chronic pain and to improve the management and treatment of pain conditions. Although chronic pain is routinely researched, the data from these investigations are often held in isolation. The aim of the data hub is to combine data from chronic pain research being undertaken across the UK, to maximise the value and use of this data

THE IMPACT OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ON CHRONIC PAIN

CONSORTIUM AGAINST PAIN INEQUALITY

RESPECTED, INVOLVED AND EMPOWERED

Janine Rennie Janine Rennie shares her experience Patient

ADVANTAGE CONSORTIUM LEADS PIONEERING RESEARCH INTO VISCERAL PAIN

Visceral pain is pain arising from diseases of

INVESTIGATING NEUROPATHIC PAIN

David Bennett and Kathryn Martin explain the Painstorm Project

DESCRIBING PAIN

When I tell people that I live with

THE IMPACT OF SOCIETY AND OUR MINDS ON THE WORKINGS OF CHRONIC PAIN

Alongside biological factors, psychological factors such as thoughts and feelings, and social factors including personal relationships and lifestyle, can also affect chronic pain. However, we don’t know which of these factors is most important, or how they combine to affect people’s experiences of pain

WHERE’S THE EVIDENCE: WHAT TREATMENTS REALLY WORK?

It can be so hard to identify cause and effect in one’s life, whether to do with changes in pain, general wellbeing or mood. What makes sense one day doesn’t seem to apply the next day; many patients find that analgesics work for their pain only occasionally, enough to keep trying but not enough to rely on. Exactly the same problems face researchers on pain and its treatment. Only by establishing clear cause and effect relationships can those who treat pain be sure of the advice and treatments they offer. So how can they achieve that?