Know Your Patient's ACEs

Adverse childhood experiences and the trauma they cause can perpetuate chronic pain throughout a lifetime. Despite this, many practitioners fail to properly identify or assess trauma and unknowingly become frustrated when patients fail to become better. PSYDs Melissa Fledderjohann and Christian...

Pain Management in a Unique County Hospital Setting

PsyDs Melissa Fledderjohann and Christian Washburn work at the San Mateo Medical Center Pain Management Clinic in California. In this interview they talk about what makes their work setting, and the programs within it, unique.

Active vs Passive Modalities

Changes in guidelines have brought about reductions in opioid doses. Melissa Fledderjohann and Christian Washburn, both PSYD, on active modalities they recommend being incorporated into treatment.

Incontinence, Biofeedback, and the Assessment Process

A "resolution of symptoms" is highly possible for pelvic issues such as incontinence. Physical therapist Sandy Hilton explains how biofeedback can help this problem, and other pelvis issues. 

If Your Patient Has a Pelvis, Ask How It Feels!

Sandy Hilton, a physical therapist at Entropy Physiotherapy, a clinic in Chicago, talks about all too common, all too overlooked of pelvic pain. What practitioners should know, how they can ask, and how patients can get the help they need. 

Music Therapy for Pain Patients

The clinical director of Mount Sinai Beth Israel Louis & Lucille Armstrong Music Therapy Program in New York, John Mondanaro talks about music therapy as a part of integrated, interdisciplinary patient care.

Women and Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain affects many women, some to the extent that they lose work days. What should practitioners know? The causes may be multifactorial, and the treatment must be individualized to give women the care they need. Dr. As-Sanie, from the University of Michigan, discusses.

What Is All the GABA About?

Gabapentin and pregabalin are being misused and abused, but remain unscheduled. Why? What's all the GABA about? Drs. Brooks and Kominek discuss.

Pain Scores and Pain as the 5th Vital Sign: PRO or CON

On a scale of 1 to 10, how crucial are pain scores for the benefit of the patient? What do these numbers impart to the practitioner? What do they mean to the patient? Pharmacists Abigail Brooks and Courtney Kominek weigh the PROs and CONs.

Functional Goals vs Pain Elimination

Does the patient want or expect elimination of their pain? Does the practitioner? What about patient functionality? Drs. Brooks and Kominek offer their opinion and bring into account the importance of exactly who is this patient and what both patient and practitioner can expect.