University of Cambridge researchers involved in the study, which was reported in the journal Science, found that the removal of the HCN2 gene stopped chronic pain, but not acute pain. Acute pain is short-term pain lasting less than 12 weeks, while chronic pain is long-term pain lasting more than 12 weeks. The researchers say their findings could lead to new drugs being developed which block the protein produced by the HCN2 gene thus, hopefully, regulating neuropathic (nerve related) chronic pain.
Kate Llewelyn, Arthritis Care's head of information, said: 'While this is potentially exciting, more research clearly has to be done. Last year, our Arthritis Hurts report showed that arthritis-related pain causes significant difficulties for a large number of people and limits their ability to live life fully or to carry out many everyday activities. About 3 per cent of the 2,000 respondents told us that their everyday pain is often unbearable. With over 85 per cent of calls to Arthritis Care's helplines being about pain, it demonstrates that more needs to be done to support people to manage their chronic pain more effectively.'
For support on coping with arthritis, people can contact Arthritis Care's Helplines on 0808 800 4050 to speak in confidence with someone or email Helplines@arthritiscare.org.uk