According to a 2006 publication, approximately 76.2 million Americans suffer from pain lasting over 24 hours while millions more experience shorter term pain. Pain negatively impacts physical and mental well-being and is the most common reason Americans access healthcare, representing a major cost. While medicine has expertise in diagnosing and treating many causes of pain, genomics and new technologies hold promise in deeper understanding of pain mechanics and developing innovative therapies. Researchers are improving measurement and categorization of pain over time across groups using computer technology and focusing on translating biological and behavioral pain management research into clinical practice.

1. Genomics and the Future of Medical Pain Management
By Dr. Todd E. Lininger
According to a 2006 publication by the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 76.2 million Americans suffer from
pain that lasts longer than 24 hours, while millions more experience pain within a shorter duration. Pain negatively affects the
long-term well-being of individuals at both the physical and mental levels. Americans report that pain is the most common
reason for accessing the health care system, and it is the leading cause of disability. Furthermore, medical care for pain
represents a major share of health care costs.
Although the fields of medicine and complementary medicine possess extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating many
causes of pain, there remain areas where new treatment strategies will improve patient outcomes. Genomics and other
technologies hold promise in helping medicine understand the mechanics of pain in more depth. Through genomics,
researchers have improved knowledge about genetic factors related to pain sensitivity and they have developed innovative
therapeutic approaches. Scientists continue to concentrate on translating knowledge about biological and behavioral pain
management approaches from research into clinical settings. One example is a project where researchers are improving their
capacity to measure and categorize pain more accurately by using computer-assisted technology to determine pain over time
across patient groups, conditions, and diseases. More information about the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pain
Consortium is available at www.painconsortium.nih.gov.
About the author: A Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology, Dr. Todd E. Lininger specializes in the treatment of
acute and chronic pain at Pain Care Associates in Michigan. Dr. Todd Lininger excels in teaching and he currently serves as
the Pain Management Fellowship Director at Wayne State University School of Medicine, his alma mater.