Multimodal Approach to Prevent Chronic Pain Development

Abstract

Although pain is an adaptive sensory experience, the transition from acute to chronic pain is not adaptive and results in the development of a chronic clinical condition. There is ample evidence from preclinical and clinical studies that excessive afferent discharges consequential to tissue injury evoke peripheral and central sensitization that leads to the development of chronic pain. The balance between the risk and protective factors drives the progression from acute to chronic pain. Pain conditions begin with initiating factors, such as acute physical injury of the muscles, and resolve without complication or persistence in most cases. To prevent chronic pain, we need to focus more efforts on prevention and use interdisciplinary approaches, particularly for the most persistent pain problems.