1. I do know multiple people who suffer with chronic pain. Of the people I know, chronic pain is an additional side effect to other diseases.
2. The video that we watched from TED talked about one of the growing ways that people attempt to treat chronic pain. We attempt to use opioids to treat chronic pain. Doctors, especially in the early and mid 2000s, prescribed opioids at really high rates. In the mid-1990s, it became more common for doctors to prescribe opioids for chronic pain, instead of just for immediate pain, like broken bones. Another unhealthy coping mechanism is using illicit drugs and alcohol for quick relief from pain. This is also connected to the opioid crisis because usually people begin doing heroin due to chronic opioid use. And finally, another way that we do not manage chronic pain well is mentally making it bigger and bigger, also known as "catastrophizing" which is basically obsession over the pain until it mentally gets worse and worse .
3. Some healthy ways that we cope with chronic pain are light exercise like walking, swimming, dancing or yoga can be good to help keep your body moving and can lessen bad days. Trying to keep a regular schedule with work can also help because it keeps the mood up and lowers depression. Also, physical therapy can help give people the skills to work out some of their chronic pain flare ups with exercises and stretches that can have positive longterm effects.
4. The main group of genes that are being targeted by gene therapy are the NOP-coding genes.
5. Drugs that mimic nociceptin but are able to be taken in a pill could be a way to manage chronic pain.
6. I think that the common person has a lot of trouble pinpointing the cause of their chronic pain and that can be really debilitating. And, because a lot of us work at desks all day or are on our phones, the pain that staying in these odd positions brings seems to be becoming normalized and treated like it is something that we have to experience. But I think that if we as a society tried to create better working areas then some of the people suffering from chronic pain may get some relief.
Mager, Dan. “Where Did the Opioid Epidemic Come From? Part One of Two.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 21 Sept. 2017, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/some-assembly-required/201709/where-did-the-opioid-epidemic-come-part-one-two.
Myers, ByWyatt, et al. “The Best and Worst Ways to Cope With Pain - Pain Management Center - Everyday Health.” EverydayHealth.com, 2012, www.everydayhealth.com/pain-management/the-best-and-worst-ways-to-cope-with-pain.aspx.
“Nociceptin: Nature's Balm for the Stressed Brain.” Nociceptin: Nature's Balm for the Stressed Brain | Scripps Research, Scripps Research , 2014, www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2014/20140108roberto.html.
“Ways to Manage Chronic Pain.” NHS Choices, NHS, 2018, www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/ways-to-manage-chronic-pain/.