{ “Hurt Blocker” Jim Howe

 There is a drug that prohibits all unnecessary pain. It can be used to help people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or arthritis. To understand how it works you must first understand how pain works.  There are four main types of pain. They are either helpful or harmful, long lasting or short lived. The Drug

 Pain is a “sense” that all complex organisms share. It informs us to when we are injured and it also prevents us from acting in a certain way to prevent further injury. Without pain then we would continue in unhealthy behavior and eventually cease to exist. It is what keeps us in balance. Why do we feel Pain

 Nociceptive pain is the first type of helpful pain. Its is in response to sudden and intense stimulation of the nerves. This can be anywhere from burning your hand to stubbing your toe. It informs us of an injury so we do not make it worse.  Inflammatory is second. It is caused by the immune system and is used to help prevent immune system and is used to help prevent long lasting injury. Although it can be hard to long lasting injury. Although it can be hard to endur it is also necessary because it prevent us from further injuring ourselves. from further injuring ourselves. Helpful pain

 Dysfunctional Pain is caused by genetic irregularities in the way nerves perceive a stimulus. It is very unnecessary because it will cause the lightest touch to feel excruciating. Neuropathic Pain is the final type. It is classified as damage to nerve fibers. It also causes lesions in other parts of the central nervous system. Neuropathic Pain is the final type. It is classified as damage to nerve fibers. It also causes lesions in other parts of the central nervous system. Unnecessary Pain

There are different types of pain, but what really causes us the perceive it? When skin is compressed or cut NAv1.7 is released and is passed on from the nerve to the spinal cord. Then the pain is passed up into the brain. Different things cause different reactions. For example a light touch would not trigger the release of NA1.7 so it would not be registered as pain. How we feel it

 Researchers have found out that a mutation in the gene SCN9A causes the misfiring of the NAv1.7 which in turn sends a pain signal. The drug blocks the NAv1.7 from moving up the spinal cord to the brain. However it does not stop all pain signals. It only stops the signals in nerves that are firing uncontrollably (Dysfunctional and Neuropathic). What this means is, although you will not feel the dull aching pain from your old sore back, you will still feel the hot stove your hand is on. This relates to Gate Control Theory How the drug works

 According to the gate control theory there are two chemicals that are released when a pain stimuli is passed through the spinal cord. The first chemical “closes the gate” to the brain by blocking synapses of other nerves and not allowing them to pass on the signal. The other opens the gate to allow the pain signal to enter the brain. The drug works by blocking the signal before it leave the problem nerves. Gate Control Theory

 The first instance where the mutation in the gene SCN9 was found in 2004 by  The first instance where the mutation in the gene SCN9 was found in 2004 by Researchers led by Yong Yang of Peking University First Hospital in Beijing. They found two mutations in a family suffering from primary erythromelalgia, a condition wherein Nav1.7 channels open too readily and the body’s extremities become red, swollen and burn with pain. Case studies

 In other studies there were different mutations in the same gene. Instead of extreme pain the patient felt no pain at all. One particular child in Pakistan spent his days as as street performer. His main act was putting knives through his arms. He continued to live pain free until his 14th birthday when he died jumping off a roof. Case Studies

 The drug is currently in stage II of testing. In this stage dosage and effectiveness of the drug is found out. Researchers have also broadened their area of study from NAv1.7 to NAv1.8 and 1.9. theses strands of sodium are much less known, however it is believed that the drug may also be able to target them to further reduce pain. Testing

 To every pro there is a con. This drug can be very easily exploited by people who want only to hide pain and not deal with the injury. People like professional athletes may use it to get a couple more seasons out of their career.  This is highly recommended. Using the drug for theses purposes not only solves noting it also can make the injury worse. Pain is present for a reason, to tell us when there is something wrong. If we ignore that then things can very easily get a lot worse.  Also the drug may hide some early warning signals for more sever conditions such as strokes. Without the pain one may not have a warning that it is coming. Down side

 Researchers are continuing to way the positives and the negatives. The drug can be the answer for many people suffering from chronic pain. So for that reason they continue to research. One day this drug may be a viable option. Conclusion