Hepatobiliary: Having to do with the liver plus the gallbladder, bile ducts, or bile. For example, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can be applied to the hepatobiliary system.

Hepatobiliary makes sense since "hepato-" refers to the liver and "-biliary" refers to the gallbladder, bile ducts, or bile.

You know it when you feel it. It may be sharp or stinging, hot or aching, dull or prickly. Either way, we call it by the same name: “pain.” When it lasts and lasts, it becomes a disorder known as chronic pain syndrome (CPS). The condition occurs in a wide range of diseases and conditions, including

• arthritis,
• migraines,
• fibromyalgia,
• back spasms,
• inflammatory bowel disease,
• endometriosis,
• temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), and
• chronic fatigue syndrome.

In the following slides, our medical experts will describe the sources and causes of pain, signs you may need to monitor it, and many ways to manage it.

Our ancestors thought that pain came from evil spirits or even avenging gods like Poine, the Greek goddess of revenge, from whose name we get the word "pain."

With the help of modern medicine, we now know that pain is a complicated process involving the various chemicals of the brain and spinal column. To start, electrical impulses send messages of pain from specific pain sensory nerves to the brain.

A big role in the chronic pain process is played by neurotransmitter receptors. These receptors are the things our bodies’ chemicals are stimulating when they transmit pain, whether it’s chronic or not.

When the brain reacts to pain, the signal is usually directed to the thalamus. The thalamus is a bulb-shaped object with two roughly walnut-sized halves split at the center of the brain at the top of the brain stem. It relays messages between the brain and various body parts.

There are no medical instruments to measure pain. It affects people differently, and doctors typically rely on a patient’s own description of their CPS before recommending pain management treatments.

Even if it is mild, anybody with frequent or daily pain should see a doctor to identify the cause. That's especially true if it interferes with your life by limiting activities or your ability to work. The cause may be temporary and treatable, or it may be the source of CPS.

Remember: chronic pain can creep up on you. Even if it starts out as occasional and bothersome, frequent suffering can become serious and debilitating over time.

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Media Contact
Jessica Watson
Journal Manager
Clinical Gastroenterology Journal
Email: gastroenterology@eclinicalsci.com