May 2012

A look at pain management news and notes, May 2012.

Recently adopted diagnostic criteria can help primary care physicians assess patients for this rare and painful condition.

Back pain sends more people to the doctor than any other condition except the common cold, but similar symptoms shared by several different conditions make it difficult for many physicians to properly diagnose a lumbar disc herniation.

Not all patients are candidates for surgical management of low back pain, and may instead benefit from other, less invasive options.

Dr. Panchal, an interventional pain physician who is president of the National Institute of Pain, discusses the challenges of treating patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).