Scientists Working to Develop More Efficient Methods of Measuring Pain

Medical professionals often struggle to accurately measure pain. However, scientists may have taken steps to address the disparity between patient comfort and effectively forming pain treatment plans. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is funding scientists around the country to study brain scans, pupil reactions, and other bodily indicators that may identify pain in the human body. The research could assist scientists in identifying effective ways of tracking pain in the human body. This information may lead to a substantial advancement in efficiently treating pain around the medical professional community.

In practice, a doctor might prescribe an opioid such as oxycodone to dull the perception of pain in the body, but this may not completely block the pain from being received. The technology scientists are developing in their search to more accurately treat pain could significantly improve the way pain is managed. Pupillary reaction technology could potentially help doctors by allowing them to consider the use of specific drugs that target nerve fibers. Such an innovation may reduce the reliance on opioids as pain relievers.

Individuals often have different tolerance levels for pain or may not be able to clearly articulate how the pain affects them. The progression in pain management technology may increase a doctor’s ability to understand the severity of a person’s pain and adequately treat it. For example, one person may rate the pain of a car accident very differently than another on a 1 to 10 scale. This can complicate testing for potential new painkillers as patients do not quantify pain at the same level or scale. These recent developments could mitigate these issues and help usher in the next round of effective treatment options for pain.

Pain is an inevitable element of any personal injury accident. The methods that a doctor uses to treat that pain could strongly impact the way a person recovers. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are caused by a negligent party. If you or a loved one suffered a devastating accident due to another person’s recklessness, contact a dedicated personal injury attorney at the law offices of Tomkiel & Tomkiel. Call today to start preserving your best interests and reviewing your potential legal options.