21st century medicine killing pain [videorecording]. (Bethasda, MD Discovery Communications, 2000)
Since the advent of the autopsy in the last century, medicine has focused on structure and defects in structure rather than symptoms. But in the last years, one particular symptom has moved to the forefront of interest and investigation-pain. Pain is now considered the first "vital sign" and there's a flurry of current research that will impact the way we all feel in the next century. In the program, we follow some of the most exciting new work. How does gender effect perception of pain and its treatment? How is pain "imprinted" on the body? How can the body's own natural analgesics and defenses be mustered? How might "alternative" methods work? These are some of the issues we investigate. At the same time, we profile several patients who are dealing with the anguish of persistent pain today and surmise how advances may help them in the future.
Keywords: Pain; Chronic Disease; Pain -- Physiological aspects; Pain -- Treatment