Imagine having pain that feels like burning or electric shocks, with no visible cause. This is what nerve pain (or “neuropathic pain”) can be like. It affects 8% of the UK population, that is about 5 million people.
PAINSTORM brings together experts and people living with this kind of pain, caused by damage or disease of the nervous system. PAINSTORM is improving how we understand and research neuropathic pain. We recognise pain’s huge impact on people’s quality of life.
Nerve damage often happens through conditions like diabetes, HIV, or after chemotherapy. Current treatment for neuropathic pain tends to focus on medicines, but most of these only work for small numbers of people. Medicines cannot address the broader experiences of individuals living with pain.
PAINSTORM is addressing these limitations in current knowledge and treatments. We are exploring the various factors contributing to neuropathic pain, including genetic, environmental, and social factors. We also use innovative techniques, such as brain and nerve imaging, to understand how neuropathic pain works and why it affects people differently. Our ultimate goal is to transform lives by enhancing the understanding and management of neuropathic pain.
More information can be found here.