Advances in Chronic and Neuropathic Pain

This book is an in depth guide to chronic and neuropathic pain. The issue of chronic and neuropathic pain is very prevalent, yet only a fraction of the symptoms and root causes, as well as potential treatment plans, are properly understood. Additionally, less than half of cases are accurately identified and properly treated. The existing drugs, although classified as very strong and powerful, cannot provide lasting relief to chronic and neuropathic pain. Thus, with all the unique features of this condition, this book presents a systematic way of diagnosing and approaching this condition so every practitioner can appropriately treat their patients. 

In addition to introducing key concepts, like classification of chronic pain and the challenges patients and practitioners face when dealing with and treating chronic and neuropathic pain, this book also covers different syndromes that can lead to neuropathic pains. It discusses how to monitor progress by using outcome measures, the presence of chronic and neuropathic pain in children and young adults, and the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain as it relates to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, the latter is not presently addressed except with the usual pain drugs for general pain—this book aims to revolutionize the approach to chronic and neuropathic pain by exploring it separately from the clinical approach to general pain. It is interesting to note that these cytokines require a specific mode of action if we want to neutralize them in our system, and this concept will be discussed in the regenerative intervention sections. Since it is so necessary to address the many factors to chronic and neuropathic pain as laid out in the proposed table of contents, it is also critical include as varied authors as possible to address this condition from all areas being covered. The team assembled to author the chapters included in this text come from diverse backgrounds of practice and clinical and research interests, from physical medicine and rehabilitation to anesthesiology to radiology and interventional pain medicine.

This is an ideal guide for all clinicians caring for patients with chronic and neuropathic pain.

Section 1: Understanding Chronic and neuropathic pain.- Classification of Chronic pain.- The Challenges in Dealing with Chronic and Neuropathic Pains.- Section 2: Pathophysiology.- The Pathophysiology of Chronic Pains.- The Pathophysiology of Neuropathic Pain.- Section 3: Age and Pain.- Pain in Children and Young Adults.- Pain in older adults.- Section 4: Pain processing medical problems.- Cancer and Pain.- Degenerative Diseases and Pain.- Complex Regional Pain Syndromes.- Neuropathic Pain Syndromes.- Fibromyalgia as a Neuropathic Pain Disorder.- Section 5: Clinical Matters.- Clinical Assessment.- Diagnostic testing of neuropathic pain.- Outcome Measures for chronic Pain.- Section 6: Management of chronic and neuropathic pains.- Non-Pharmacologic Modalities to Chronic and Neuropathic Pains.- Pharmacologic Approaches to Chronic and Neuropathic Pains.- Section 7: Interventional Therapy.- Interventional Procedures for Chronic and Neuropathic Pains.- Regenerative Interventions in Chronic and Neuropathic Pains .

Jeimylo de Castro, MD – board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is Professor of the University of Bohol and serve as its Dean in the College of Physical Therapy, University of Bohol, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines. He is also board certified in the American Academy and Board of Regenerative Medicine. He is the Medical Director/President of SMARTMD Philippines. He is registered in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (RMSK) and Certified in Interventional Pain Sonology (CIPS). He has been teaching both diagnostic and interventional MSK ultrasound in different parts of the world and is a regular faculty in MSK Ultrasound in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He has written scientific papers on Regenerative Interventions for Pain and authored two chapters in the book Pediatric MSK Ultrasound. He also founded and is the chair of the MASK (Musculoskeletal Active Skills in ) US ( Ultrasound), an online webinar on MSK ultrasound and Regenerative Medicine. He also has pioneered using alpha-2-macroglobulin for peripheral nerve injuries and inflammatory joint interventions and has been using these interventions for the last 2-3 years.