When Duane Coogan realised pain would be her constant companion she spent days in tears, but a new understanding of how it is affecting her emotions is providing relief.
Anyone who has lived with chronic pain will be well aware of the emotional pain that can come with it.Researchers found people with chronic pain had lower levels of glutamate, which helps regulate emotionScientists are developing a computer program to teach brain cells to communicate properly again
Researchers from Neuroscience Research Australia compared the brain scans of 19 patients with conditions such as nerve pain and jaw disorders against the scans of 19 healthy peopleSylvia Gustin found patients with chronic pain had lower levels of a substance called glutamate, a key chemical messenger between brain cells that helps regulate emotion.
As a result, people in chronic pain can have personality changes where they are"prone to feeling tired, unmotivated and constantly worrying on a daily basis", she said.
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