Chronic pain experienced by cancer and arthritic patients can be controlled with the use of an intra oral prosthesis (IOP). The pink coloured product is made from acrylic, a dental compound that is used to prepare artificial dentures. The treatment with IOP for chronic pain is now being recognised by radiotherapists in the country as a breakthrough in pain management. IOP is placed in the mouth before the patient retires to bed. It acts directly on the brain, calms the nerves and relives the stress bringing in the much-needed relief to patients who are immobilised by the excruciating and throbbing pain.

The product is discovered by a radiotherapist, Dr. N Anantha, former director, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and current pain management consultant at two well-known private medical establishments - Sagar Apollo Hospital and Bangalore Hospital. The product patent application has been submitted in the US and India in mid-2002 and the approval is expected in the next five months.

Leading oncology specialists from the US and UK have acknowledged IOP as a one- of-a-kind-in-the-world because it is known to alleviate a major suffering for millions of cancer victims to be relived of pain. "Pain is a malady and is dreaded by cancer, arthritis patients and their families more than the actual disease itself. IOP is known to not only provide relief from pain but oedema which is a common problem in oncology cases," Dr. Anantha told Pharmabiz.com.

Around 150 terminal cancer patients and those suffering from painful conditions due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis affecting the joints have found relief so far. Most of the cases are either patients of Dr. Anantha or referred to by his juniors working at cancer departments in hospitals in Mumbai, Coimbatore and other parts of south India. "Patients have returned with gratitude because of the dramatic relief," said Dr. Anantha on a note of consolation as for the last 35 years, there had been no answer with the oncology medical fraternity to provide pain relief to scores of cases. Now the IOP discovered by chance has been presented at the All India Radiotherapists conference has been appreciated and accepted.

The only way to control pain accepted by oncologists world wide and in India was to prescribe morphine, which is known for its side-effects and handling post morphine conditions was a challenge for the doctors. IOP has no side effects and is known to provide for relief and undisturbed sleep.

In cancer patients, the brain is hyper active or hyper excitable. It sends down the impulses, which causes pain. Once the impulses are controlled from the brain, the pain stops, explained Dr. Anantha and added that the IOP which is placed in the patient's mouth at night, immobilises the tongue.

The IOP must be custom-made as the size of the mouth differs from case to case. It is placed on the tongue and fits into the upper portion of the mouth comfortably for each patient. The measurement of the upper portion of the mouth is taken and provided to the dental department at Bangalore Hospital where is currently practising as a pain consultant.

The product has been used to control pain in all types of cancers except oral cancer and paediatric cancer cases because the tongue is usually sore indicating that the disease is active under such conditions. Once the symptoms are controlled, the pain can be managed with IOP.

Once the product patent is received, Dr. Anantha hoped to appoint dentists to design and produce the product for each patient. The cost of the product cannot be disclosed as the main of IOP is provide relief from chronic pain, he averred.