Pain is a protective mechanism the body develops to help it avoid and respond to noxious and harmful stimuli. Although a complex phenomenon affected by a multitude of factors, including age, gender as well as genetic makeup, the science behind pain is now understood. When cells get injured, they unleash several biochemical messengers that trigger a nerve-generating inflammatory response. This response then converges on what is known as the ‘TRP’ family of channel receptors – twenty-seven in all and housed in the various peripheral nerve endings in the skin and its underlying tissue.
These receptors discharge signals along their pathways to the brain, eliciting the response we interpret as pain. However, there are times when these harmful and toxic stimuli are no longer present, yet the pain sensation persists. It is on these occasions that pain becomes chronic and debilitating and is referred to as neuropathic pain. Regardless of the underlying cause– for example, trauma, arthritis, or disease– chronic pain leads to several deleterious effects. These are often far-reaching and affect many aspects of daily living, including mood, ambulation, sleep, immunity, and cognition. It follows that alleviating this form of pain can vastly improve one’s quality of life. And that’s what Lubracane addresses.