Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection, involving immune cells, blood vessels and chemical mediators such as cytokines.

In the short term, it protects tissues and promotes healing. But when inflammation becomes persistent or exaggerated, it can sensitize nerves and contribute to chronic pain.

A key process linked to prolonged inflammation is oxidative stress — an imbalance between harmful molecules called free radicals and the body’s antioxidant defenses. Oxidative stress damages cells, amplifies inflammation and further activates nociceptors, creating a cycle that sustains pain. Conditions like arthritis, back pain and neuropathies often involve both inflammation and oxidative stress

Modern treatments aim to restore balance: anti-inflammatory drugs, biologics targeting cytokines, lifestyle interventions (like exercise and diet) and interventional techniques such as (transcutaneous) pulsed radiofrequency (TcPRF).