Conditions such as fibromyalgia and lupus, addressed by the artists respectively, highlight chronic pain as a complex disease that affects the body and mind, requiring specialized diagnoses and personalized treatments
The actress Daniele Valente He has publicly commented that he suffers from fibromyalgia, a disease characterized by constant pain, tiredness and sensitivity. Now the presenter Astrid Fontenellein turn, deals with lupus, an autoimmune condition that can trigger inflammation and persistent symptoms. Cases like theirs draw attention to a problem that affects millions of people around the world and goes far beyond the physical, affecting emotions, sleep and even careers.
According to the neurosurgeon and pain medicine specialist, Wilker KnonerChronic pain must be understood as a disease in itself and not just as a symptom. “Pain is an electrical signal that the body sends to the central nervous system when an injury occurs. The problem is when this signal remains active for more than three months, even after treating the initial cause. This generates a change in the nervous system, which starts to work in automatic mode, maintaining pain continuously,” he points out.
This process, called Chronic Pain Syndrome, can trigger a number of other symptoms, such as anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, irritability, dizziness, palpitations and even the risk of suicide. In more serious cases, such as the so-called “phantom limb”, the patient continues to feel pain in an already amputated part of the body.
Stress as a trigger
In the case of artists like Daniele Valente and Astrid Fontenelle, emotional stress and the pressure of a busy career can act as triggers for worsening pain. “The body and mind do not work separately. When there is emotional exhaustion or little sleep, pain finds fertile ground to intensify,” says the specialist.
He points out that while inflammatory diseases like lupus cause hypersensitivity of nerve endings, fibromyalgia is different, as there are no detectable physical lesions, but the nervous system interprets normal stimuli as intense pain. In both cases the suffering is real and can limit one’s personal and professional life.
Diagnostic challenges
One of the biggest obstacles in treating chronic pain is the correct diagnosis. Many people repeatedly go to the emergency room seeking relief, but end up receiving medications aimed at acute pain, without solving the problem. “There is no specific test to detect chronic pain. In 90% of cases of headache, for example, the tests are normal. The diagnosis depends on a detailed clinical evaluation and a global look at the patient,” he emphasizes.
According to him, patients with pain that persists for more than three months should consult a pain specialist, a professional with specific registration (RQE) in this sector, available for consultation in the Regional Medicine Councils.
Increasingly personalized treatments
Treatment of chronic pain is individualized and can combine several approaches. These include the use of medications (antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anxiolytics and cannabis derivatives), physiotherapy, physical activity, acupuncture, psychotherapy and integrative techniques, such as yoga and mindfulness. In more complex cases, there are high-tech options, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, indicated for fibromyalgia, and the implantation of neurostimulators, known as “pain pacemakers”, capable of blocking aberrant electrical discharges directly in the spinal cord or brain.
For Wuilker, the future of pain medicine lies in the personalization of treatments. “It is not enough to cure the disease. It is necessary to take care of the person who feels pain. The objective is to restore quality of life and autonomy to the patient” he concludes.
Specialist
The neurosurgeon Wuilker Knoner is from Campo Mourão, in the interior of Paraná. He graduated in Medicine from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and completed his specialization in Neurosurgery at the Federal Hospital of Bonsucesso, in Rio de Janeiro. His training also includes postgraduate studies in Neurointensivism at the Sírio-Libanês Hospital, in São Paulo. Also worth mentioning are experiences at leading institutions such as the Barrow Neurological Institute, in the United States, the USP Hospital das Clínicas (specialization in Functional and Pain Neurosurgery), in Sao Paulo, and European centers of excellence in Italy (specialization in Degenerative Spine and Tumors, in Bologna) and in France (internship in Interventional Neuroradiology, in Montpellier).
Source: Terra

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.