Evaluation and Management of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is one of the leading health-care crises in America today, affecting more patients than cancer and heart disease combined. In response to uncontrolled pain, the use of prescription opioid analgesics has soared, resulting in a second problem, one of addiction. In order to optimally treat patients with pain, while minimizing the risks of abuse diversion or addiction, it is important to establish an accurate diagnosis and design the most appropriate treatment plan. Moreover there are multiple strategies that are known to be effective in pain. A thorough understanding of the options available to physicians is likely to improve pain control and minimize risks.