Metabolic Changes and Palliative Care in the Older Adult

There are many changes in the body composition of the older adult that can lead to altered effects of drug therapies. Symptom management in the older adult can be complicated as many of the drugs which we use are amongst those recommended to be avoided in this population. It is critical to...

Differential Diagnosis of Myelopathies

Myelopathie--spinal cord disorders--are associated with multiple medical conditions. Dr. Argoff provides an overview of the causes of myelopathy, and discusses differential diagnosis and options for treatment.

Pearls and Pitfalls for the Business Aspects of Drug Testing

2016 was not a good year to be on the wrong side of medical necessity when it came to drug testing and ongoing prescribing of controlled medication or substance abuse treatment programs. 2017 is likely to be an expensive year for those who do not proactively take steps to understand medical...

The Business Aspects of Drug Testing

Lost in Translation: Making Sense of Clinical Treatment Guidelines

This presentation will highlight common procedures used for pain reduction, their evidence base, and a basic description of how each procedure is performed. We will primarily review epidural steroid injections, facet joint blocks and denervation, sacroiliac joint injections and denervation...

The Painful Uterus and the Brain

Dysmenorrhea is the most common pain disorder among women, estimated to affect 40% to 90% of women in their reproductive years. Up to 20% of women report menstrual pain severe enough to interfere with usual activities. As such, it is a leading cause of school and work absenteeism in young women...

Diagnosis and Treatment of Erythromelagia

Erythromelagia is a rare and potentially devastating syndrome associated with severe heat and burning pain, and redness involving the skin of the hands or feet or both. The study of this disorder has led to the discovery of new insights into pain pathophysiology as well as new treatments. This...

Reducing Medication Burden While Managing Chronic Pain

Per the department of Health and Human Services, opioid related overdose deaths have increased almost 400% over the last 18 years. This shift has yielded heightened scrutiny of prescribing practices, and opioids have subsequently fallen out of favor as a first-line treatment for chronic pain. In...

Abuse Deterrent Technologies to Minimize Opioid Abuse

Although opioids remain an important tool in aiding the management of pain in the United States, the balance between the potential benefits and harms must be considered. Some specific harms are manifested in the abuse of opioids for nonmedical purposes. The primary access to prescribable opioids for...

Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Most states have passed legislation to honor a type of advanced directive, commonly known as a POLST, for Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment. It is basically a more detailed and specific DNR (do not resuscitate). Patients consistently report preferences to die peacefully at home but all...