Chronic pain is a battle that millions of people fight every day, often in silence and with few weapons at their disposal. But science does not give up, and a new study on the Diadem device could change the rules of the game, offering new hope to those who have tried everything.
The invisible enemy: chronic pain
Imagine waking up every morning knowing that pain will be your constant companion throughout the day. For approximately 1,5 billion adults worldwide (20% of the world's population), this is an ugly daily reality. Chronic pain, defined as pain that persists for more than three months, is a debilitating condition that can turn simple tasks into insurmountable challenges.
And that's not all. For millions of these people, the pain It is so intense that it severely limits their daily routine. It's like living with an invisible anchor that always drags you down, making every step a titanic undertaking.
A new hope on the horizon: the Diadem device
A team of researchers recently published a study in the journal Bread (I link it here) that could revolutionize the way we treat chronic pain. At the heart of this research is a device called Diadem, a biomedical innovation that uses ultrasonic waves to combat pain.
Il Dr. Jan Kubanek, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah and co-author of the study, makes a “call to arms”:
If you or your relatives suffer from chronic pain that does not respond to treatments, please contact us; we need to recruit many participants before these treatments can be approved for the general public.
How does the Diadem work?
The Diadem is a non-invasive device that uses ultrasound waves to treat chronic pain. Imagine being able to “turn off” pain like you turn off a switch: we’re not quite there yet, but the Diadem comes pretty close to that idea.
At the moment, the study involved 20 patients suffering from chronic pain. These brave volunteers participated in treatment sessions with the Diadem or placebo stimulation. Each patient received two 40-minute sessions, followed by one-week monitoring.
The results: a step forward in the fight against chronic pain
The results were surprising. 60% of patients receiving Diadem treatment reported improvement in pain management both on the first day and after one week. In comparison, Only 15% and 20% of patients receiving placebo treatment reported improvements on days 1 and 7, respectively.
These numbers may seem cold and distant, but behind every percentage is a person who has found relief, who perhaps for the first time in years has been able to enjoy a moment of respite from the constant pain.
Beyond Opioids: A New Frontier
Dr. Kubanek adds: “With your help, we believe that chronic pain can be effectively silenced. And with new pain treatment options, we can also address the opioid crisis".
These words underscore another crucial aspect of this research. Chronic pain is not only a matter of individual suffering, but also a public health problem. Opioid addiction, often started as a treatment for chronic pain, is a scourge that afflicts many societies. Diadem could offer an alternative that is not only effective, but also safe.
The future of pain treatment
This study opens up new possibilities for treating chronic pain. Imagine a future where pain can be managed without the use of powerful drugs or invasive surgery. A future where the quality of life of millions of people can be dramatically improved by a device no bigger than a smartphone.
Of course, it’s still early days. More research and more extensive testing is needed before the Diadem can be made available to the general public. But every great journey begins with a small step, and this seems to be a step in the right direction. A step without pain.
