Researchers pioneer chronic pain relief

(ANSA) - Rome, April 24 - Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo just outside Rome have come up with a technique for managing chronic pain using light, according to an article published in Nature Communications on Tuesday.
    The research team led by Paul Heppenstall has developed a light-sensitive chemical that selectively binds to a special population of nerve cells in the skin that are responsible for sensitivity to gentle touch and which also cause severe pain in patients with neuropathic pain.
    By first injecting the affected skin area with the chemical and then illuminating it with near-infrared light, the targeted nerve cells retract from the skin's surface, leading to pain relief for up to three weeks So far the technique has only been tested effectively on mice.
    "In pathologies even the stimulus normally linked to stroking can cause suffering," researcher Linda Nocchi told ANSA.
    Neuropathic pain is a chronic illness affecting 7-8% of the European population, with no effective treatment that doesn't induce side effects, the researchers say.