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Global Burden of Chronic Pain: Advances and Challenges in Pain...
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Global Burden of Chronic Pain: Advances and Challenges in Pain Management and Clinical Practice

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 1942

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Saba Javed

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Interests: chronic pain syndrome; cancer pain syndrome; neuromodulation; intrathecal pump; opioids; nerve blocks; joint injections
Dr. Billy Huh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Interests: chronic pain syndrome; cancer pain syndrome; neuromodulation; intrathecal pump; opioids; nerve blocks; joint injections

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic pain represents one of the most pervasive and disabling global health challenges, affecting quality of life, productivity, and overall well-being across diverse populations. The global burden continues to rise, fueled by aging demographics, cancer survivorship, and the growing prevalence of neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain syndromes. This Special Issue explores the evolving clinical landscape of chronic pain management, emphasizing innovative, evidence-based, and patient-centered approaches that transcend traditional pharmacologic paradigms. Advances in interventional pain procedures, neuromodulation, and regenerative therapies are reshaping how clinicians approach diagnosis and treatment. Equally important are the socio-economic and cultural determinants influencing access to care, disparities in treatment outcomes, and global policy responses aimed at improving pain education. Contributors to this issue highlight emerging translational research bridging neurobiology and precision medicine to optimize outcomes. By integrating global perspectives, this collection underscores the need for collaborative frameworks that balance innovation with accessibility and ethical responsibility. Ultimately, understanding and addressing the global burden of chronic pain requires a unified vision—one that advances science, enhances clinical practice, and restores dignity and function to those living with persistent pain.

Dr. Saba Javed
Dr. Billy Huh
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chronic pain syndrome
  • cancer pain syndrome
  • neuromodulation
  • intrathecal pump
  • opioids
  • nerve blocks
  • joint injections

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 611 KB  
Article
Long-Term Outcomes of Epidural Motor Cortex Stimulation for Refractory Chronic Neuropathic Orofacial Pain
by Marina Raguž, Marko Tarle, Petar Marčinković, Sven Krušić, Domagoj Dlaka, Tonko Marinović and Darko Chudy
Life 2026, 16(4), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040651 - 12 Apr 2026
Viewed by 519
Abstract
Background: Epidural motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is an established neuromodulatory option for refractory neuropathic pain; however, structured data on long-term outcomes, stimulation dependency, and real-world device management remain limited, particularly in chronic neuropathic orofacial pain. Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study included patients [...] Read more.
Background: Epidural motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is an established neuromodulatory option for refractory neuropathic pain; however, structured data on long-term outcomes, stimulation dependency, and real-world device management remain limited, particularly in chronic neuropathic orofacial pain. Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study included patients with refractory neuropathic orofacial pain treated with epidural MCS at a tertiary neurosurgical center. Clinical data were extracted from medical records and longitudinal follow-up documentation. Pain intensity was assessed using a unified 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS/VAS) at baseline, best achieved response, and last follow-up. Responder status was defined at the last follow-up (≥50% pain reduction from baseline). Secondary outcomes included stimulation dependency during OFF periods, reprogramming burden, device-related events, and safety. Results: Ten patients (6 women, 4 men; mean age 61.5 ± 8.6 years) were followed for a mean of 7.6 ± 6.3 years (range 2–22 years), with 70% exceeding five years of follow-up. Baseline pain intensity (8.8 ± 0.4) decreased to 4.6 ± 0.8 at the best achieved response and remained lower at last follow-up (5.6 ± 0.9). At the last follow-up, eight patients (80%) were classified as partial responders (30–49% pain reduction), while two (20%) were classified as non-responders. Clinically relevant worsening during stimulator OFF periods occurred in 70% of patients. Reprogramming was required in all patients, and 60% underwent battery replacement. No clinically significant stimulation-related adverse effects were observed. Conclusions: Epidural MCS was associated with sustained pain reduction over extended follow-up. These findings support the interpretation of MCS as a chronic neuromodulatory therapy requiring ongoing stimulation, individualized programming, and long-term device management, contributing clinically relevant long-term evidence to the evolving role of neuromodulation in refractory chronic neuropathic pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Burden of Chronic Pain: Advances and Challenges in Pain Management and Clinical Practice)
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13 pages, 274 KB  
Article
Prevalence of PD-1 Inhibitor-Associated Peripheral Neuropathy: A Retrospective Cohort Study
by Suma Ganji-Angirekula, Nicole W. Segada, Prit Hasan, Peter M. Grace, Jian Wang, Xiaowen Sun and Saba Javed
Life 2026, 16(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010031 - 25 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 979
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a promising treatment option for many cancers but is associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy in some patients. This retrospective cross-sectional EMR-based prevalence study was performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center with an aim to define the prevalence and epidemiology [...] Read more.
Immunotherapy is a promising treatment option for many cancers but is associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy in some patients. This retrospective cross-sectional EMR-based prevalence study was performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center with an aim to define the prevalence and epidemiology of Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor-associated polyneuropathy. A total of 12,092 patients treated with a PD-1 inhibitor between 4 March 2016 and 18 June 2023 were identified and those on immunotherapy monotherapy were isolated. A total of 817 patients had documented neuropathy-associated with PD-1 inhibitor exposure, corresponding to a prevalence of 6.76% (6.76%, 95% CI 6.31–7.22). Data was stratified to assess for association between peripheral neuropathy and agent, sex, race, ethnicity, smoking and diabetes status. Patients identifying as “Other” race had higher prevalence of neuropathy compared to White or Caucasian patients (OR 1.514, p = 0.0189) and non-Hispanic or Latino patients had higher prevalence of neuropathy compared to Hispanic or Latino patients (OR 1.502, p = 0.0078). Current-smokers had significantly lower prevalence of neuropathy compared to never-smokers (OR 0.716, p = 0.0368). These disparities underscore the importance of further investigation in genetics and mechanisms to identify therapeutic interventions for PD-1 inhibitor-associated peripheral neuropathy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Burden of Chronic Pain: Advances and Challenges in Pain Management and Clinical Practice)
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