The University Hospital Leipzig (UKL) is expanding its range of therapies for chronic pain by using highly concentrated capsaicin patches. The pungent substance from chili peppers is used specifically for nerve pain that is difficult to treat, especially in the pain outpatient clinic and in the pain day clinic.

Around 12 million people in Germany suffer from chronic pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks and becomes an independent disease regardless of the original cause. Common forms include back pain, headaches, joint pain, fibromyalgia, and migraines. These severely affect everyday life and can lead to inability to work and social withdrawal. In the case of chronic pain, measures that are effective in acute pain often fail, as the pain itself becomes a learned reaction of the organism.

The UKL offers outpatient treatment in the Pain Outpatient Clinic as well as multimodal therapy in the Pain Day Clinic. This combines medication, exercise therapy, psychological counseling and behavioral therapy to improve the way pain is dealt with and to maintain or regain everyday life.

Capsaicin, the natural active ingredient from chili peppers, has recently been used as a new option. In a highly concentrated form, it reduces the sensitivity of nerve endings to pain stimuli. The drug is applied externally as a patch to the affected areas. Due to the high concentration, the application is only carried out under medical supervision and for a short time.

After successful pilot tests, the procedure is now an integral part of pain therapy. It is primarily aimed at patients with permanent nerve pain, such as after shingles. Treatment can be carried out on an outpatient basis or as part of the semi-inpatient multimodal therapy in the day clinic, which takes place daily for four weeks.

The Pain Day Clinic treats a maximum of eight patients per course per month. Places that become available often allow for appointments at short notice.

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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