{"id":676439,"date":"2025-06-21T00:55:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T21:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/why-acute-and-chronic-pain-are-so-different-and-what-might-make-pain-last\/"},"modified":"2025-06-21T00:55:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T21:55:14","slug":"why-acute-and-chronic-pain-are-so-different-and-what-might-make-pain-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-acute-and-chronic-pain-are-so-different-and-what-might-make-pain-last\/","title":{"rendered":"Why acute and chronic pain are so different\u2014and what might make pain last"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3f97a25851f\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3f97a25851f\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-acute-and-chronic-pain-are-so-different-and-what-might-make-pain-last\/#The_brains_pain_relays_behave_differently_in_acute_vs_chronic_pain\" >The brain&#8217;s pain relays behave differently in acute vs. chronic pain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-acute-and-chronic-pain-are-so-different-and-what-might-make-pain-last\/#The_key_player_A%E2%80%91type_potassium_current\" >The key player: A\u2011type potassium current<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-acute-and-chronic-pain-are-so-different-and-what-might-make-pain-last\/#A_step_toward_smarter_pain_therapies\" >A step toward smarter pain therapies<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2024\/pain-1.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2024\/pain-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: Kindel Media from Pexels\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2024\/pain-1.jpg\" alt=\"pain\" title=\"Credit: Kindel Media from Pexels\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: Kindel <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Media<\/a> from Pexels<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A new study reveals that when we experience short-term (acute) pain, the brain has a built\u2011in way to dial down pain signals\u2014like pressing the brakes\u2014to keep them from going into overdrive. But in long\u2011term (chronic) pain, this braking system fails, and the pain signals just keep firing. This discovery helps explain why some pain goes away while other pain lingers, and it opens the door to new treatments that could stop pain from becoming chronic in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>In a study <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.adr3467\" target=\"_blank\">published<\/a> in <i><a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science<\/a> Advances<\/i>, researchers\u2014led by Doctoral student Ben Title under the guidance of Prof. Alexander M. Binshtok from The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine and the Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) at The Hebrew University\u2014reveal that our bodies respond to acute (short\u2011term) and chronic (long\u2011lasting) pain in surprisingly different ways at the cellular level. Their discovery sheds new light on how pain becomes chronic\u2014and opens the door to better\u2011targeted treatments.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_brains_pain_relays_behave_differently_in_acute_vs_chronic_pain\"><\/span>The brain&#8217;s pain relays behave differently in acute vs. chronic pain<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The team studied a small but crucial region in the brainstem called the medullary dorsal horn, home to neurons that act as a relay station for pain signals. These projection neurons help send pain messages from the body to the brain.<\/p>\n<p>The scientists found that during acute inflammatory pain, these neurons actually dial down their own activity. This built\u2011in &#8220;braking system&#8221; helps limit the amount of pain\u2011related signals sent to the brain. Once the inflammation and pain subside, the neurons return to their normal state.<\/p>\n<p>However, in chronic pain, this braking system fails. The neurons don&#8217;t reduce their activity\u2014in fact, they become more excitable and fire more signals, potentially contributing to the persistence of pain.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_key_player_A%E2%80%91type_potassium_current\"><\/span>The key player: A\u2011type potassium current<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Using a combination of electrophysiology and computer modeling, the researchers identified a key mechanism: a specific potassium current known as the A\u2011type potassium current (IA). This current helps regulate the excitability of neurons.<\/p>\n<p>In acute pain, IA increases\u2014acting like a natural sedative for the pain pathways. But in chronic pain, this current doesn&#8217;t ramp up, and the neurons become hyperactive. The absence of this regulation may be one of the biological switches that turns temporary pain into a long\u2011lasting condition.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is the first time we&#8217;ve seen how the same neurons behave so differently in acute versus chronic pain,&#8221; said Prof. Binshtok. &#8220;The fact that this natural &#8216;calming&#8217; mechanism is missing in chronic pain suggests a new target for therapy. If we can find a way to restore or mimic that braking system, we might be able to prevent pain from becoming chronic.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_step_toward_smarter_pain_therapies\"><\/span>A step toward smarter pain therapies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Chronic pain affects over 50 million people in the U.S. alone, often with few effective treatment options. This new study adds an important piece to the puzzle by showing how the nervous system&#8217;s built\u2011in pain controls are disrupted in long\u2011term pain conditions.<\/p>\n<p>By understanding the brain&#8217;s own strategies for limiting pain\u2014and why they sometimes fail\u2014scientists are now one step closer to developing smarter, more precise therapies for those who suffer from chronic pain.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n                                                    Ben Title et al, Opposite regulation of medullary pain-related projection neuron excitability in acute and chronic pain, <i>Science Advances<\/i> (2025). <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.adr3467\" target=\"_blank\">DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.adr3467<\/a>. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.adr3467\" target=\"_blank\">www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.adr3467<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHebrew University of Jerusalem<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"http:\/\/www.huji.ac.il\/huji\/eng\/index_e.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/medx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                 <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                 Why acute and chronic pain are so different\u2014and what might make pain last (2025, June 20)<br \/>\n                                                 retrieved 20 June 2025<br \/>\n                                                 from https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-06-acute-chronic-pain.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2025-06-acute-chronic-pain.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: Kindel Media from Pexels A new study reveals that when we experience short-term (acute) pain, the brain has a built\u2011in way to dial down pain signals\u2014like pressing the brakes\u2014to keep them from going into overdrive. But in long\u2011term (chronic) pain, this braking system fails, and the pain signals just keep firing. This discovery helps&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":676440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2024\/pain-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-676439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=676439"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676439\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/676440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=676439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=676439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=676439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}