In “The long search for the pain gene” article Wager observes the current academic research on lasting physical pain and the various states of pain among individuals. Chronic pain affects a considerable number of people, with as many as one in five individuals experiencing some form of it. Outside the immediate negative consequences, untreated chronic pain can also lead to the overuse or abuse of painkillers, such as the ongoing opioid crisis. The article focuses on the theory of a pain gene as the answer to recurring and unique experiences of pain among individuals (Wager, 2018). The specific work cites a study beginning in 1966 with a focus on personal experiences of people suffering from ‘man-on-fire syndrome’ (Wager, 2018). Complexity is inherent to such a study, and the main gene responsible for pain factors can be observed through the molecular, pharmacological, and electrophysiological lens. In fact, certain genes can be allocated to physical features through extensive studies of regularities among large sample sizes.
This article is relevant to my current study primarily due to the complex biochemical understanding of nerves. The SCN9A is a gene that is responsible for the encoding of a complex molecule called Nav1.7 that functions as a sodium channel. It acts as the foundation of the primary functions of the nervous system (Bennett et al., 2019). As such, when an electrical current passes through the channels, ions move toward the neurons thereby creating a nerve impulse. This article effectively communicates some of the central ideas of my current study, which involves regular nerve operations and pain alleviation. In my opinion, the most important conclusion from the article is the ability to alter such ‘relay stations’ can lead to pain reduction without damage to any brain processes. The understanding of this process is vital to observing any medical treatments that aim to target the patient’s pain symptoms as a result of nerve functions.
References
Bennett, D., Clark, A. J., Huang, J., Waxman, S. G., & Dib-Hajj, S. D. (2019). The role of voltage-gated sodium channels in pain signaling. Physiology Review, 99(1), 1079 –1151. Web.
Wager, T. (2019). The long search for the pain gene. Nature. Web.