An innovative interactive game developed by UNSW Sydney is showing promise as a drug-free treatment for chronic nerve pain.
The PainWaive system, created by Professor Sylvia Gustin and Dr. Negin Hesam-Shariati, combines a game-like app with a brain-monitoring electroencephalogram (EEG) headset to help users regulate abnormal brain activity linked to neuropathic pain.
In its first clinical trial, four participants used the system at home over four weeks. The kit included a 3D-printed headset, costing just USD 300, and a tablet with the app. Users were guided to adopt mental strategies, such as relaxation and positive visualization, to normalize their brain activity. The app responded in real time to shifts in brainwave patterns, while researchers remotely monitored the data.
Results were encouraging: three out of four participants experienced significant pain reduction, with effects comparable to, or better than, opioid treatments. The trial builds on Prof. Gustin’s research into brain changes, particularly in the thalamus, which is associated with nerve pain.
By offering an accessible, non-invasive, and opioid-free alternative, PainWaive could pave the way for a new generation of treatments for chronic pain sufferers.
