Managing Chronic Pain Through Genetic Testing (Essay Sample)

MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN THROUGH GENETIC TESTING
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Managing Chronic Pain through Genetic Testing
Introduction
Chronic pain is a challenging medical condition and one of the leading causes ofmorbidity and mortality around the globe. Individuals often suffer persistent and life-altering pain. Besides, they frequently experience oncologic and psychological co-morbidities, which further complicate their conditions. Medical researchers have established a vicious cycle of chronic pain that comprises pain, avoidance behaviors, decreased mobility, an altered functional status, diminished self-efficacy, and social limitations among the patients (Kapur, Lala, & Shaw 2014). Unrelieved pain causes psychological and physiological effects on patients. As such, integration of genetic testing in pain management is critical. This paper explores how pharmacogenetic testing can enhance the management of chronic pain.
Pharmacogenetic testing (PT) is a huge step towards chronic pain management. It replaces the trial-and-error methods of medication therapy, which contribute to the long-term effects of uncontrolled pain (Kapur, Lala, & Shaw 2014). Medical practitioners can enhance patient outcomes by determining the genetic determinants that influence response to medicines. Genetic testing has reduced preventable morbidity and mortality that stem from drug-drug and patient-drug interactions(Vehof et al. 2014). Also, integrating genetic testing in chronic pain management provides a cost-effective care as it eludes inappropriate medications, increases patient safety, satisfaction, and safe medication.
DeFeo et al. (2014, p. 532) observe that patients with chronic pain may respond differently to the same therapeutic prescription due to their genetic variations. For instance, one patient may experience pain relief while the other might still be in pain after receiving a similar treatment(Vehof et al. 2014). Genetic testing helps physicians to determine dosage and the type of medication that can efficaciously treat different patients. Genetic variations are responsible for thefailure of trial-and-error treatment methods thatdominate pain management. Nevertheless, pharmacogenomics has helped medical practitioners to explore the ways in which inherited or acquired genetic differences determine individuals’ interactions with medication therapy.Wong and Fielding (2012, p. 28) claim that the fundamental aim of pharmacogenetic testing is to enhance chronic pain management through customized drugtreatment for individual patients. A proper understanding of thegenetic makeup of patients is the first step in determining the type of medication.
There are various acknowledged genetic societies globally including the Professional Society (PRO), and the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) among others, which have established guidelines for genetic testing and the administration of opioid analgesics that determine genetic makeup and their influence on dosages (Vehof et al. 2014). The testing takes into account additional factors such as age; other medications administered lifestyle, diet, nutrition, environment, and drug addiction among others.Chronic pain caretakers follow the guidelines to determineways of delivering medication therapy to genetically variant patients efficaciously than ever before.
Conclusion
Chron...