Personally, I have not discussed chronic pain anyone who struggles with this problem. I have heard of people struggling with chronic pain most notably related to back pain. Chronic pain is an always occurring sensation. People who deal with this problem sometimes find unhealthy ways to cope with the pain. Some people resort to alcohol, a GABA in inhibitor, to suppress the feeling of the pain. Another unhealthy way people attempt to process chronic pain is the abuse of prescription drugs. Some people dealing with chronic pain even resort to the consumption of illegal drugs to cope. Societally “healthy” ways to cope with chronic pain include prescribed doses of analgesics such as anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids, topical lidocaine-based products, and other non-drug treatments such as exercise, massage, and controlled heat/cold application. The genes being targeted for gene therapy in the amygdala are NOP coding genes. Since NOP are opioid receptors, opioids inhibit pain sensation in the amygdala thus the rest of the body. As the TED Talk mentioned, pain is normally perceived to be in connection to the physical injury. The video gave an interesting example for a man in chronic pain with my physical injury. This idea was quickly disproven and introduced the idea of nociception. Pain is felt through multiple nervous systems including the central and peripheral. It makes sense that psychological factors would have a major influence on pain sensation because the majority of receptors are located in the brain, and not as centrally allocated throughout the integument and rest of the body.
(n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2020, from https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-mysterious-science-of-pain-joshua-w-pate
Roberto, M. (2014). Nociceptin: Nature’s Balm for the Stressed Brain. Retrieved from: https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2014/20140108roberto.html.
Chronic Pain Management and Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4798-chronic-pain/management-and-treatment