New data is demonstrating the healing qualities of music and suggesting new applications in pain management.
The change in thinking on the neurological effects of centralized pain has led to better diagnosis and treatment, producing better outcomes for patients.
Identifying and understanding patient-centered risk factors for chronic pain and applying rational treatment approaches can reduce the risk of acute pain transitioning into chronic pain.
Expanding the scope of your practice to incorporate hypnosis and other non-pharmacologic therapies and modalities can provide a multitude of benefits for your patients.
Polls show that nearly half of Americans want to see marijuana legalized. The drug may have potential therapeutic effects for pain conditions and has already been legalized for medical use in some states
Patients can take steps to reduce systemic stress by getting adequate rest and exercise, and eating a nutrient-dense diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fermented soy products, and healthy oils.
Prescribers must account for a variety of factors, such as rate and pathway of metabolism, dose-dependent divergent analgesic effects, and precautions with special populations, when administering opioid therapy.
Pain clinicians need to keep up to date on current changes to rules and regulations governing practice in their state in order to protect themselves and their patients.
One of the keys to curbing the prescription drug abuse problem in the US is greater communication and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the medical community.
Chronic pain sufferer, advocate, and health coach Rebecca Curtis, ACC, says that the brain is the most powerful pain management tool that we have.
A variety of factors contribute to drug-drug interactions and medication errors in the pain management setting.
Continued education in this area of pharmacology is necessary for improving outcomes and maximizing treatment options.
The process of analgesic development can be arduous. Clinicians need to be aware of the necessary guidelines and regulations to follow so that the clinical trials they design are comprehensive, ethical and offer societal benefit.
Clinicians who prescribe opioids should be aware of the symptoms of opioid-induced constipation and the benefits of the pharmacologic options for managing this condition.
The incidence of diabetes is increasing worldwide, according to the International Diabetes Federation. In 2007 alone, the United States spent $218 billion on diabetes and pre-diabetes, and more than 50% of spending is related to hospitalization for diabetes-related complications.
Providing effective treatment for this common form of neuropathic pain requires the clinician to understand the presentation of the disease and the benefits and limitations of the range of available treatment options.
Session explores how music can be used as a nonpharmacologic intervention to facilitate tension release during acute pain episodes; how music therapy can be used to optimize coping through reinforced autonomy, control, and mind-body awareness; and the advantages of live music over recorded music in the individualized care of patients experiencing pain.
Information for clinicians about the role of adjuvant antidepressant and anticonvulsant treatment options in a variety of pain syndromes, the pharmacotherapies commonly prescribed, and the monitoring parameters for the safe and effective use of these nonopioid therapies.
