A serene path towards a pain-free future, symbolized by a figure walking towards a sunrise through a field of wildflowers.

Unlocking Pain Relief: A Modern Guide to Effective Therapies

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Navigating chronic pain: Personalized strategies, innovative treatments, and expert insights for a better quality of life."

Chronic pain affects millions worldwide, impacting daily life and overall well-being. Finding effective relief can be a complex journey, often requiring a multifaceted approach that considers individual needs and circumstances. Fortunately, medical science continues to advance, offering new and improved strategies for managing pain and enhancing quality of life.

This article delves into some of the most promising developments in pain management, drawing from recent research and expert insights. We'll explore the latest guidelines for treating pain, innovative pharmaceutical options, and personalized approaches that are transforming the landscape of pain relief. Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive and accessible overview of the tools and techniques available to help you or your loved ones live more comfortably.

Whether you're a patient seeking information about treatment options, a caregiver supporting someone with chronic pain, or simply interested in the latest medical advancements, this guide offers valuable insights into the world of pain management. Together, we can navigate the complexities of pain and discover pathways to a brighter, more pain-free future.

New DGS Practice Guideline: Improved Care for Pain Patients

A serene path towards a pain-free future, symbolized by a figure walking towards a sunrise through a field of wildflowers.

The German Society for Pain Therapy (DGS) is actively refining its practice guidelines to optimize care for pain patients. These guidelines address specific pain types—tumour pain, inflammatory pain, and muscle-related pain—and will soon be available on the DGS website (www.dgschmerztherapie.de). These updated guidelines aim to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations for pain management.

According to PD Dr. Michael Überall, Vice President of the DGS, previous pain therapy guidelines, such as the National Care Guideline (NVL) for back pain, had significant limitations and lacked practicality. The new guidelines incorporate both available study data (external evidence), clinical experiences of practitioners (internal evidence), and patient experiences, leading to potentially different evaluations of therapies compared to older guidelines.

Emphasis on Muscle Tone: The new guidelines place significant importance on muscle tone-stabilizing medications for back pain.
Flupirtine Highlighted: The selective neuronal potassium channel opener (SNEPCO) flupirtine is recommended as a first-line treatment option.
High Rating: Oral flupirtine received the highest rating (A) across all five criteria: approval status, external and internal evidence, patient experience, safety, and tolerability.

In a placebo-controlled Supreme study involving 326 patients with acute or subacute back pain, flupirtine (Katalodon® S long, 400 mg once daily) demonstrated significant pain reduction. Specifically, 54.4% of patients achieved their individual treatment goals for average 24-hour pain intensity, compared to 38.5% in the placebo group and 42.9% in the tramadol group. Flupirtine also showed good tolerability, with only 10% of patients discontinuing therapy due to side effects, similar to the placebo group (11.8%) and lower than the tramadol group (20%).

Alternative for Swallowing Disorders

For patients who experience difficulty swallowing, finding suitable medication can be a challenge. Pregabalin (Lyrica®) is now available in a liquid form, offering a helpful alternative for those with swallowing difficulties. This is particularly beneficial for patients with dementia, cancer, or those receiving palliative care, who often struggle to swallow capsules or tablets. Pregabalin is approved for treating adults with peripheral or central neuropathic pain, and the liquid formulation is specifically designed for patients with swallowing issues.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s15223-012-0073-7, Alternate LINK

Title: Neue Dgs Praxis-Leitlinie: Bessere Versorgung Von Schmerzpatienten

Journal: Angewandte Schmerztherapie und Palliativmedizin

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Roland Fath

Published: 2012-06-01

Everything You Need To Know

How are the updated German Society for Pain Therapy (DGS) practice guidelines improving care for pain patients?

The German Society for Pain Therapy (DGS) is enhancing patient care through updated practice guidelines that address tumour pain, inflammatory pain and muscle-related pain. These guidelines, set to be available on the DGS website, consider study data, practitioner experience, and patient feedback. This comprehensive approach contrasts with the limitations of previous guidelines, like the National Care Guideline (NVL) for back pain, which were deemed impractical. The enhanced guidelines aim to offer evidence-based recommendations for effective pain management.

What makes flupirtine a recommended option in the new pain management guidelines, and what does the Supreme study reveal about its effectiveness?

Flupirtine, a selective neuronal potassium channel opener (SNEPCO) receives a high rating (A) across approval status, external and internal evidence, patient experience, safety and tolerability in the DGS guidelines. A Supreme study showed that flupirtine (Katalodon® S long, 400 mg once daily) led to significant pain reduction in patients with acute or subacute back pain, with a good tolerability profile. This makes flupirtine a recommended first-line treatment option for back pain.

How does the availability of Pregabalin (Lyrica®) in liquid form address challenges in pain management?

Pregabalin (Lyrica®) now comes in liquid form to aid patients with swallowing difficulties, like those with dementia, cancer, or those in palliative care. It's designed for those unable to take capsules or tablets, and it's approved to treat peripheral or central neuropathic pain in adults. The liquid formulation ensures that patients who struggle with solid medications can still receive the necessary treatment.

Why do the updated DGS guidelines emphasize muscle tone in the treatment of back pain?

Muscle tone-stabilizing medications are emphasized in the DGS guidelines for managing back pain. This is a key component since muscle tone plays a significant role in back pain. The focus on muscle tone highlights the importance of addressing not just the symptoms but also the underlying physical causes of pain to achieve more effective and lasting relief.

What factors were considered in the development of the updated DGS guidelines, and why is this comprehensive approach important?

The updated DGS guidelines prioritize external study data, internal practitioner experience, and patient feedback. By combining these elements, the guidelines aim to be both evidence-based and practical, addressing real-world challenges in pain management. Integrating patient experience ensures that the guidelines are patient-centered, promoting treatments that are not only effective but also well-tolerated and aligned with individual needs.