| Podcast
The prescription drug problem in America has led to many guidelines and, in some cases, regulations aimed at stemming the tide of prescription drug abuse. Some are evidence based, but most are driven by fear and an overwhelming need to do "something." Unfortunately, while these guidelines have...
| Podcast
Effective pain management has been deemed a human right, but some chronic pain patients perceive that to mean they are entitled to opioid analgesics for prolonged pain control. In response to these expectations, providers may feel pressured to say "Yes" and continue prescribing opioids, thereby...
| Podcast
In February 2016, President Obama expressed his compassion for people with pain loud and clear, saying, "If we go to doctors right now and say 'Don't overprescribe' without providing some mechanisms for people in these communities to deal with the pain that they have or the issues that they have...
| Podcast
A common practice for treating chronic back pain includes core stabilization. There is strongly held belief in health care and fitness that back pain is related to the strength of core muscles. Where did this belief originate? Why is it so popular? What is the evidence supporting widespread use of...
| Podcast
The science of drug testing in chronic pain has advanced rapidly over the past few years. Yet there is still confusion around optimal test choices, frequencies, and what test results actually provide. Today's definitive drug testing technology can help to identify more than the simple "presence or...
| Podcast
There is strong evidence supporting the use of biobehavioral therapies for chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia, migraine, and other forms of severe headache. Evidence based behavioral medicine treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and biobehavioral training. These...
| Podcast
Pain management in the elderly can be quite complex. The most common method of pain control in this population is pharmacotherapy. However, this patient population is becoming subject to the complex interactions and risks associated with polypharmacy. Hence, interventional strategies are...
| Podcast
Nonopioid analgesics are oftentimes considered first-line therapy for most chronic pain syndromes. A strong understanding of these agents' mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity profiles is paramount for today's pain practitioner. This course will provide an in-depth look at each of the...
| Podcast
Diagnostic testing is an integral component for the differential diagnosis. In routine clinical practice there has been a tendency for clinical examinations to become more cursory, largely influenced by increasing demands of time and patient expectations of technological advances. The end result may...
| Podcast
On September 16, 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hosted a public webinar where they revealed a draft of their 12 prescribing guidelines for chronic pain. Due to technical difficulties, the entire process was repeated the following day. Concerns over the way the guidelines...