STIMULUS team raises awareness of chronic pain through the Dodentocht

Four researchers from STIMULUS, the neuromodulation research group at VUB and UZ Brussel, took part in the 100-kilometre Dodentocht in Bornem on 14 August. Together with 16-year-old Oscar Moens, they raised awareness of chronic pain and its complex impact on daily life. Nearly one in five adults in Europe lives with moderate to severe chronic pain.

Prof. Dr Maarten Moens, a neurosurgeon at UZ Brussel, Prof. Dr Lisa Goudman, Dr Ulrike Van Hoey and Dr Britt Winnepenninckx are affiliated with STIMULUS. Only Oscar Moens is not a member of the research group, but his very presence underlines that this story is not merely scientific or clinical. It is also human, familial and societal. After all, chronic pain is never confined to just one person. It creeps into a family, a relationship, a social circle and a work environment. It demands resilience not only from the patient, but also from the people who support them every day, listen to them, plan with them and hope alongside them.

"With this Dodentocht, we wanted to show that chronic pain does not belong on the sidelines. Walking a hundred kilometres requires stamina, mental resilience and the determination to carry on when the body protests. For people with chronic pain, this is not a one-day challenge: they often live with pain and its consequences for months or years. We do not wish to compare their experience with our walk, but we do want to show that we want to share in this story and that chronic pain deserves greater visibility and understanding," says Prof. Dr Maarten Moens.

Chronic pain: present, but often invisible

Chronic pain is persistent pain that lasts for more than three months. According to the European Pain Federation, nearly 20 per cent of the adult European population lives with moderate to severe chronic pain - an estimated 150 million people.

The condition is complex because pain rarely exists in isolation and is difficult for outsiders to understand. Long-term pain can affect sleep, mobility, concentration and mood, and make it harder to work, take part in social activities or carry out daily tasks. At the same time, stress, fatigue and other physical or psychological factors can also influence the experience of pain. That is why it is not always sufficient to look solely at the physical cause or the intensity of the pain.

Prof. Dr Maarten Moens: "Those around the person also feel the effects. Partners, family members and other loved ones often take on practical and emotional support. They help with daily activities, adjust plans or offer support during difficult times. For them, too, this long-term involvement can be accompanied by uncertainty, fatigue and strain. Good pain care therefore looks not only at the patient and their treatment, but also at their functioning, quality of life and the context in which they live."

Research into personalised care

STIMULUS is the neuromodulation research and teaching group at VUB and UZ Brussel. Neuromodulation influences nerve structures using electrical signals or medication and can be used, amongst other things, to treat complex, difficult-to-treat pain. The group combines clinical care, research and education and investigates how pain management can be better aligned with patients' daily lives.

This broad approach is reflected in various projects. Stimulus@home, developed with support from the UZ Brussel Foundation, supports people with chronic pain and long COVID through, amongst other things, pain education, cognitive behavioural therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

'Intiem Verlicht', realised with support from De Warmste Week 2025, focuses on the impact of chronic pain on relationships, intimacy and communication through a series of discussion evenings for adults with chronic pain and their partners.

The IMPROVE projectalso ​ places the patient's lived experience at the centre. As part of this, STIMULUS is investigating whether refilling medication pumps can be done safely at home for certain patients. The research looks not only at medical and technical aspects, but also at comfort, patient preference and the impact on the healthcare organisation.

By taking part in the Death March, Team STIMULUS aims to send a clear message: chronic pain deserves not only treatment, but also understanding.