| Pain is typically classed as either chronic or acute. | | | | interventions offered by primary care physicians |
| Chronic pain (CP) is very different from acute | | | | and pain management specialists, many |
| pain (AP). AP sufferers know that the discomfort | | | | non-medical interventions may contribute to this |
| is self-limiting. Daily pain is 'the norm' for CP | | | | end. Some examples of "non-medical" treatments |
| sufferers, and this expectation contributes to | | | | for CP are: |
| depression. Doctors treat AP sufferers differently | | | | *rest |
| than they treat CP sufferers. If the pain is short | | | | *stretching |
| term, Doctors are more likely to prescribe opioids | | | | *hot/cold compress applications |
| because the risk of dependency is reduced with a | | | | * biofeedback |
| shorter treatment time. For long term pain, many | | | | *hypnosis |
| clinicians are cautious about prescribing opioids, | | | | *weight reduction |
| occassionally to the point of doing nothing. In a | | | | *exercises specifically designed to strengthen |
| recent interview with Paula Moyer for Medscape, | | | | supporting muscles and encourage proper body |
| Scott M. Fishman, MD (Professor of | | | | alignment. |
| Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chief of the | | | | *acupuncture/acupressure |
| Division of Pain Medicine, University of California, | | | | No one treatment is effective for all types of |
| Davis) stated that in two recent cases, physicians | | | | pain. Effective pain management may involve a |
| were actually charged with elder abuse for | | | | combination of methods, including opioids (codeine, |
| providing inadequate pain management. | | | | tramadol, morphine, etcetera), non-opioid drugs |
| Avoiding opioid medications, however, can lead to | | | | like nsaids (ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, |
| the over-prescription of other medications that | | | | aspirin, etc.), and "helper drugs," aka adjuvants, |
| may be toxic, such as NSAIDS or (in some | | | | such as antidepressants (sometimes effective in |
| patients) COX-2 inhibitors. | | | | treating fibromyalgia pain), topical/local anesthetic |
| The ultimate goal is to return the individual to as | | | | sprays, muscle relaxants, and others. |
| functional a state as is possible. Besides medical | | | | |