[Pain treatment tomorrow]

Abstract

In the last few years global understanding of pain has improved due to current molecular biological studies. The identification of a large number of different proteins is an essential part of future therapies, since they, as enzymes, receptors or ion channels, are specific relays in the nociceptive system and therefore have key functions in pharmacotherapeutic therapy. Nature itself supplies a variety of substances which are of therapeutic value, some of which are already in scientific trial. In contrast, even today not all available pain therapy measures are in use in Germany, at least not in all areas. Especially the treatment of children is not state of the art. Thus a further increase of chronic pain patients is to be expected in the future. This development has to be stopped, not only for ethical reasons, but also to prove the economical value of adequate pain therapy. Qualified treatment of acute pain within well defined limits can help to avoid chronification and further costs. This will be the decisive argument with which to mobilize the necessary funds for the development of the pain treatment of the future.