| Analgesics

5 Most-Cited Takeaways From PAINWeek 2024

Settling into the fall season is the perfect time to ground ourselves—ground our commitment to delivering excellent care, improving patient outcomes, and leveraging every beneficial tool at our disposal. What better way to kick off Fall than by highlighting the key learnings around pain management, patient-centered care, and improving quality of life and overall well-being presented at this year's biggest pain management event: PAINWeek 2024. 

Over four days, more than 90 acclaimed experts delivered upwards of 85 forward-thinking, clinically relevant educational sessions. The agenda was an unforgettable learning experience for pain science and pain management enthusiasts. Attendees, including thousands of dedicated health professionals, gained access to the latest knowledge and developments in the field, from exclusive patient insights from former track and field star Charles Clark to innovations like psychedelics and new pain management tools. 

Clinical Pearls and Takeaway Insights 

The stakes in pain management have never been higher. With 50 million Americans suffering from chronic pain, the current practices are falling short, deepening the crisis. Alarming statistics reveal that 1 in 5 individuals struggle with daily activities due to pain, and those affected are four times more likely to experience depression or anxiety. Moreover, 60% of patients report that their pain treatments are ineffective. The disparities in care are equally troubling—Black and Hispanic patients often receive inadequate pain management, while women who experience higher rates of chronic pain frequently receive less effective treatment. 

Against this backdrop, PAINWeek 2024 delivered powerful insights aimed at addressing these critical issues. Here are the five most-cited takeaways from this year’s attendees. 

The 5 Most-Cited Takeaways From PAINWeek 2024 

#1 The Future of Pain Relief Looks Bright

Session: “Analgesics of the Future”

Presenter: Jeffrey Gudin, MD

Dr. Gudin outlined the promising future of both opioid and non-opioid pain therapies, offering hope for more effective and safer options. He highlighted novel compounds such as biased opioid receptor ligands, which may minimize side effects like respiratory depression, and cebranopadol, a dual nociceptin and opioid receptor agonist that could offer potent pain relief with a lower risk of addiction.

Key Takeaways:

  • Cebranopadol: Offers strong pain relief with reduced abuse potential.

  • Sodium Channel Blockers: VX-548 and others hold promise for targeted pain relief.

  • Non-Drug Innovations: Infrared bioceramic patches and virtual reality (VR) are proving effective in non-drug pain management.

  • Multimodal Approach: Combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments is essential for optimal pain management.

#2 Complex Pain Requires Multidisciplinary, Tailored Approaches

Session: “Sink or Swim: Pain Management Approaches for Clinical Conundrums”

Presenters: Nathan Menke, MD, PhD, FASAM, FAAEM, Jillian DiClemente, PharmD, and Hannah Cawoski, PharmD

This session highlighted the need for personalized and multidisciplinary care in complex pain cases, such as opioid dependence and overlapping pain syndromes. Presenters discussed the importance of patient engagement, comprehensive pain assessment, and balancing both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments.

Key Takeaways:

  • Complex cases, such as severe burns or sickle cell crises, require specialized approaches.

  • Non-opioid options like ketamine are viable alternatives for severe pain.

  • Opioid-induced hyperalgesia is a significant concern that must be addressed in chronic opioid users.

  • Multidisciplinary care is critical for managing complex pain effectively.

#3 Tackling Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia in Pain Management

Session: “Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia: Integrative Approaches for Co-Morbid Pain Drivers”

Presenter: David C. Leopold, MD, DABFM, DABOIM, DiplABLM

Dr. Leopold explored integrative strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and insomnia—common comorbidities in pain patients. The session focused on non-pharmacological interventions like nutrition, sleep management, and natural supplements as part of a holistic approach to reducing pain and improving quality of life.

Key Takeaways:

  • Inflammation plays a key role in the connection between stress, anxiety, and pain.

  • Non-pharmacological methods like mindfulness, nutrition, and acupuncture are effective for managing insomnia and anxiety.

  • The gut-brain connection emphasizes the role of diet in mental health and pain management.

  • Reducing polypharmacy is critical to minimizing medication side effects.

#4 Customize Buprenorphine Initiation for Optimal Outcomes

Session: “Initiation Without Precipitation: The Nitty-Gritty of Starting Buprenorphine”

Presenters: Jillian DiClemente, PharmD, Nathan Menke, MD, PhD, FASAM, FAAEM, and Hannah Cawoski, PharmD

This session covered various methods for starting buprenorphine in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) or chronic pain. Presenters discussed the pharmacology of buprenorphine and initiation techniques, including microdosing, which allows for a smoother transition from full opioid agonists without triggering withdrawal.

Key Takeaways:

  • Buprenorphine’s partial agonist properties allow for flexible dosing with fewer side effects.

  • Microdosing offers a gradual, safer transition for opioid-dependent patients.

  • Tailored initiation strategies reduce the risk of precipitated withdrawal.

#5 Psychedelics: The Next Frontier in Pain Management?

Session: “Foundations of Psychedelic Medicine: A Clinical Perspective”

Presenter: Eugene Vortsman, DO, FACEP

Dr. Vortsman explored the potential of psychedelics such as psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA in managing pain and mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Psychedelics are gaining traction as a treatment option for chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia and chronic regional pain syndrome.

Key Takeaways:

  • Psychedelics are showing promise for mental health and pain management.

  • Psilocybin and ketamine, in particular, have shown significant benefits in clinical trials for depression and anxiety.

  • Ongoing research is exploring psychedelics' potential for treating chronic pain conditions.

PAINWeek 2024 On Demand – Available November 2024! 

Did you miss the live event or want to catch up on sessions you couldn’t attend? PAINWeek 2024 On Demand is launching next month, giving you the opportunity to: 

  1. Earn additional CME/CE credit hours at your convenience 

  2. Access sessions you might have missed at the live event 

  3. Learn anytime, anywhere, from any device 

With access available through November 2025, you can engage with the latest pain management research and clinical training on your schedule. Click here to get started: www.conference.painweek.org/digital-all-access-2024. 

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