New information regarding the treatment of neuropathic pain.

In Philadelphia today, Friday 13 February 1998, the American Association for the Advancement of Science is expected to formally announce new information regarding the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Afflicting people injured in car crashes or who have had major surgery or suffer from chronic diseases, neuropathic pain is that "burning" or "shooting" pain which upon onset, can last for years with no relief from traditional analgesics — including strong opioids like morphine.  Researchers are saying that this form of pain is more common than Alzheimer's disease and in more than 50% of all sufferers, it manifests itself in the form of chronic low back pain often spreading into the patient's legs.

"This is very severe pain that can last for 10 years -- every day, all day long and all night long," said Dr. Gary Bennett of Allegheny University.  "You don't get a vacation."

From a Dartmouth University Medical School study, it is believed that neuropathic pain can be inhibited by "blocking" the action of small bodily proteins called cytokines in the CNS (central nervous system).  "We may be on the verge of a new pharmacopeia for preventing and treating pain," said Joyce DeLeo, a Dartmouth professor of anesthesiology and pharmacology.

Three families of drugs have already shown amazing success against neuropathic pain.  They include the antiepilepsy drug gabopentin; an experimental class of antiepilepsy drugs called N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor blockers; and substances called conopeptides, which originate from the venom of poisonous snails and have been synthesized by Neurex Corp. in the form of a drug called SNX-111.

These links will take you off-site for more information from news sources:

Pathfinder
MSNBC

These new drugs should be on the market within 5-years, if not sooner.  Patients suffering from neuropathic pain now, should check in with their nearest medical school/academic health sciences center to see if clinical trials are being performed in their locale.  Additionally, patients should bring these findings to their own physician's attention, if they aren't already on top of this very significant breaking news.