ArticleMedical hypotheses2007
The biochemical origin of pain--proposing a new law of pain: the origin of all pain is inflammation and the inflammatory response. Part 1 of 3--a unifying law of pain.
Article in Medical hypotheses, 2007. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Genome-wide association studies with experimental validation identify a protective role for B lymphocytes against chronic post-surgical pain.British journal of anaesthesia · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Dexmedetomidine Analgesia Effects in Patients Undergoing Dental Implant Surgery and Its Impact on Postoperative Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress.Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity · 2015Trial
- Physical Activity as a Central Pillar of Lifestyle Modification in the Management of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Narrative Review.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2025Review
- The impact of a heat therapy intervention on pain and fibromyalgia symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia: a pilot study.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Pain Management Strategies in Osteoarthritis.Biomedicines · 2024Review
- Individuals with both higher recent negative affect and physical pain have higher levels of C-reactive protein.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2022Article
- A New Minimally Invasive Procedure for Muscle, Back, Neck Pain and Radiculopathy - The Myofascial Nerve Block.Annals of clinical case reports · 2022Article
- Liquid Biopsy-Based Biomarkers of Inflammatory Nociception Identified in Male Rats.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2022Article
- Article
- Chronic pain and weight regain in a lifestyle modification trial.Obesity science & practice · 2021Article
- An Investigation of the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Analgesic Effect of Jakyak-Gamcho Decoction: A Network Pharmacology Study.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2020Article
- Acute Oral Toxicity and Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Aqueous and Methanolic Stem Bark Extracts ofEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2020Article
- Neuropathic Pain after Shoulder Arthroplasty: Prevalence, Impact on Physical and Mental Function, and Demographic Determinants.Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2018Article
- The relationship between serum leptin level and disease activity and inflammatory markers in fibromyalgia patients.Northern clinics of Istanbul · 2018Article
- Comparison of cortisol and inflammatory response between aged and middle-aged patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty: a prospective observational study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2017Observational
- Challenges in translational drug research in neuropathic and inflammatory pain: the prerequisites for a new paradigm.European journal of clinical pharmacology · 2017Review
- Effects of anaesthesia and analgesia on long-term outcome after total knee replacement: A prospective, observational, multicentre study.European journal of anaesthesiology · 2017Observational
- The clinical utility of gene expression examination in rheumatology.Mediterranean journal of rheumatology · 2017Review
- Relationship between Sleep, Pain and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.Journal of caring sciences · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
Abstract
We are proposing a unifying theory or law of pain, which states: the origin of all pain is inflammation and the inflammatory response. The biochemical mediators of inflammation include cytokines, neuropeptides, growth factors and neurotransmitters. Irrespective of the type of pain whether it is acute or chronic pain, peripheral or central pain, nociceptive or neuropathic pain, the underlying origin is inflammation and the inflammatory response. Activation of pain receptors, transmission and modulation of pain signals, neuro plasticity and central sensitization are all one continuum of inflammation and the inflammatory response. Irrespective of the characteristic of the pain, whether it is sharp, dull, aching, burning, stabbing, numbing or tingling, all pain arise from inflammation and the inflammatory response. We are proposing a re-classification and treatment of pain syndromes based upon their inflammatory profile. Treatment of pain syndromes should be based on these principles: 1. Determination of the inflammatory profile of the pain syndrome; 2. Inhibition or suppression of production of the appropriate inflammatory mediators, e.g. with inflammatory mediator blockers or surgical intervention where appropriate; 3. Inhibition or suppression of neuronal afferent and efferent (motor) transmission, e.g. with anti-seizure drugs or local anesthetic blocks; 4. Modulation of neuronal transmission, e.g. with opioid medication. At the L.A. Pain Clinic, we have successfully treated a variety of pain syndromes by utilizing these principles. This theory of the biochemical origin of pain is compatible with, inclusive of, and unifies existing theories and knowledge of the mechanism of pain including the gate control theory, and theories of pre-emptive analgesia, windup and central sensitization.
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