A Northwestern University researcher has linked chronic pain to old memory traces. Essentially the emotional and learning of the pain becomes stuck in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. That is the part of the brain that experiences the emotional suffering of pain.
D-Cycolserine was used in animal studies to significantly reduce both pain and sensitivity from the injured site. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and will be published in the Journal of Pain later this year.
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My daughter had a bi-lateral first rib resection for Thorasic Outlet Syndrome at age 14, 10 years ago, which led to a chronic pain syndrome that has disabled her ever since. The pain has extended far beyond the initial trauma, and is held somewhat in check with duragesic patches and actiq suckers. There appears to be no muscular of skeletal source for the pain, which is difuse and extends from the base of her skull to the base of her spine. We have explored the usual protocols (some 80+ specialists), and she has undergone thorasic and cervical epidural blocks, which have not helped to reduce the pain, leading us to believe that her brain is interpreting any incoming stimuli as pain. Would D-cycloserine be indicated – and how would we find someone qualified to prescribe and monitor the med? Can you help?
MIke Conlin
Mike, were you able to get cycloserine prescribed, and if so did it help?
I had bilateral trans-axillary first rib resections 6 years ago from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I did well for a few years with just minimal pain. However, I had my first child two years ago. With a 60 pound wt gain and then loss my body has now went into pain flares. I am having pain under the left arm where the rib was taken and pain shoots down my arm causing numbess and tingling. I am also getting headaches. I have seen every specialist to make sure I don’t have some underlying disease and everything is normal. Where are you at in the process with your daughter?? Have you found anything that is working?? I would love to know. Is there any support groups online for people that have had this surgery?? I just feel totally alone. I would appreciate a reply if you still reply to this blog. Thanks.
Tessi