Local anesthetic resistance is a rare condition that’s so poorly researched that many medical professionals refuse to acknowledge that it’s even real. But for those individuals who experience it, there’s no doubt. Take Lori Lemon, for instance. She has had to endure excruciating dental procedures from a young age, often at the bewilderment of dentists.
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But there are doctors who are taking this condition seriously, and a breakthrough may have finally been made, thanks in large part to Lemon and her family.
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[A genetic analysis of the Lemon family] revealed a genetic defect…that relates to a specific sodium channel in the body, known as sodium 1.5…The reason that’s significant is because a leading theory for how local anesthetics work involves the fact that [the protein NaV1.5] disrupts sodium channels. These channels conduct positively charged sodium ions, and with them, the feeling of pain to nerve cells.Share this article
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[I]t’s possible that the mutation could make the sodium channels more likely to remain open, which would allow pain signals to continue to flow to the brain even in the presence of local anesthetic.The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: Genetic mutation may prevent local anesthesia from working on some people
