NeuroTalk Support Groups - Objective pain measurement

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- - Objective pain measurement (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/206581-objective-pain-measurement.html)

Objective pain measurement

Apologies if already posted, but this is very new, and important not just for PN patients, but for all patients with short and longer term pain. Apparently sometimes people actually do something in my country. ;)

Quote:

UZ Antwerp first to objectively measure pain

The University Hospital in Antwerp (UZA) is the first hospital in the world to use devices that can measure pain in an objective way. Apart from measuring acute pain, the devices can also examine how far the pain-reducing system of patients with chronic pain is disturbed.

According to the UZA’s multidisciplinary pain centre, researchers have been looking for a way to objectify pain for decades. Until now, patients have had to estimate their pain experience on a scale from one to 10. But the Israeli firm Medoc has developed two pain measuring devices, which are used in Antwerp for the first time, thanks to a long co-operation between the company and the UZA.

http://www.flanderstoday.eu/innovati...y-measure-pain

I haven't looked into the finer science yet, but it does sound very promising, and the UZA is a serious university, not some obscure institute that promotes dodgy science. I haven't found any other articles in the news about this yet, but I'm hoping it will be picked up soon.

This is fascinating and frightening at the same time. Because I suspect myself of being a lazy wimp, I would love an objective proof of my pain levels the way I have my skin biopsy and EMG/NCS results. On the other hand, what if it showed that I was a lazy wimp?

When I had my first child, a nine pound baby girl, without so much as an aspirin, the labor nurse kept saying I wasn't having a contraction because the monitor didn't show one. When she went off duty the next nurse told me that the monitors ( this was 30 years ago) didn't work on chubby moms. Technology is a two edged sword.

I see what you mean. What if you are in terrible pain and "computer says no". :eek:

I don't know how well this works, and if all bugs are ironed out. What if it does't work for tall or chubby folks? ;) In a way, maybe we would be rather good testers - we surely don't lack our moments of pain...

Also: I'm going through a phase where one hour I feel absolutely fine, and the next I'm in serious pain and suffer from quite severe cramps. The yo-yo effect almost makes it impossible to answer the question "how do you feel today?" Not sure how this device would fit in. Maybe it would display "Wimp detected" ;)

I just found this forum tonight. I am a nurse and use the 1-10 scale all the time, and it is very subjective but it works for the individual to say if pain is better, worse or the same as before. I'm wary of some machine measuring my pain, as it only occurs if I move, like breathing, or rolling over in my sleep - Ha. Anyway, I enjoy your post. I'll keep browsing to see if i can find others with pain like mine. Have a good evening.

I believe that the amount of pain that can be endured varies from person to person. Some patients could be seriously incapacitated by what the machine considers a low level of pain. Those poor souls would probably get labeled as drug-seeking wimps. I think the pain experience is highly individual.

Welcome NancBlades. :Wave-Hello: