Local researchers using virtual reality to manage pain

Virtual reality is showing promise addressing a very real problem in health care.

Local researchers are exploring ways this technology can help manage pain.

"Something can really hurt, but if you’re not thinking about it, then it doesn’t hurt so much," said Dan Greenwald, founder and CEO of White Rhino in Lexington.

White Rhino recently brought one of their systems to the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children.

One parent said her daughter was able to play for 45 minutes and it gave her a respite from her condition.

Virtual reality can be a very powerful distraction.

"You can be in a totally fake environment that you know is fake, but when you are in it, it’s a 3D world, and things move, and things talk to you, and things respond to your touch,” said Greenwald. “It’s real as far as your brain is concerned.”

At Newton Wellesley Hospital, virtual reality is also being introduced as a pain reliever.

"The purpose of virtual reality is to address the anxiety aspect of pain behaviors,” said Dr. Louis G. Jenis, the hospital’s chief medical and innovation officer.

Dr. Jenis believes VR has a lot of potential in this area of medicine.

"A long-range vision would be to allow us to have enough other options to decrease the use of opioids and hopefully approach this epidemic in a very different fashion," said Jenis.

Hospitals like Newton Wellesley now clean rooms with germ-zapping robots and White Rhino has developed a game for doctors to play which improves their ability to spot cancerous growths.

Technology is changing the face medicine, according to Dr. Jenis.

“I think that it is going to look very different in 5-10 years from now, that's what really gets us all excited about this," said Jenis.

Cox Media Group