The biochemical origin of pain - Proposing a new law of pain: The origin of all

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Med Hypotheses. 2007 Jan 18

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.

Omoigui S.

Division of Inflammation and Pain Research, L.A Pain Clinic, 4019 W.

Rosecrans Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90250, United States.

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: 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.