Integrative Approaches to Pain

Overview

Data show that more than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain: more than those with heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. While opioids are powerful allies in the management of pain, the risk of addiction, depression, central hypogonadism, sleep-disordered breathing, infections, cognitive impairment, falls, non-vertebral fractures, and mortality are increased in populations taking these medications long-term. Clinicians should be aware of the evidence of efficacy and safety for the use of complementary and integrative approaches to the management of pain, including an understanding of which conditions might be most amenable to these interventions.

1. Participants will be able to discuss the pros and cons of prescription drugs used for pain management.
2. Participants will be able to describe the benefits and risks for using over-the-counter analgesic medications.
3. Participants will be able to describe the evidence and risk for dietary supplements commonly used by patients for pain management.
4. Participants will be able to describe three strategies to enhance the patient experience using non-pharmacologic pain management solutions.