Pain management (also called pain medicine) is the discipline concerned with the relief of pain. “Hurting” redirects here. ...

Acute pain, such as occurs with trauma, often has a reversible cause and may require only transient measures and correction of the underlying problem. In contrast, chronic pain often results from conditions that are difficult to diagnose and treat, and that may take a long time to reverse. Some examples include cancer, neuropathy, and referred pain. Often, pain pathways are set up that continue to transmit the sensation of pain even though the underlying condition or injury that originally caused pain has been healed. In such situations, the pain itself is frequently managed separately from the underlying condition of which it is a symptom, or the goal of treatment is to manage the pain with no treatment of any underlying condition (e.g. if the underlying condition has resolved or if no identifiable source of the pain can be found). In medicine, a trauma patient has suffered serious and life-threatening physical injury resulting in secondary complications such as shock, respiratory failure and death. ... Chronic pain was originally defined as pain that has lasted 6 months or longer. ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... Neuropathy is usually short for peripheral neuropathy, meaning a disease of the peripheral nervous system. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Pain management generally benefits from a multidisciplinary approach that includes pharmacologic measures (analgesics such as narcotics or NSAIDs and pain modifiers such as tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants), non-pharmacologic measures (such as interventional procedures, physical therapy and physical exercise, application of ice and/or heat), and psychological measures (such as biofeedback and cognitive therapy). Interdisciplinary work is that which integrates concepts across different disciplines. ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmakon (φάρμακον) meaning drug, and lego (λέγω) to tell (about)) is the study of how substances interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. ... For other uses of painkiller, see painkiller (disambiguation) An analgesic (colloquially known as painkiller) is any member of the diverse group of drugs used to relieve pain. ... The term narcotic, derived from the Greek word for stupor, originally referred to a variety of substances that induced sleep (such state is narcosis). ... Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs, are drugs with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects - they reduce pain, fever and inflammation. ... Chemical structure of the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline. ... The anticonvulsants, sometimes also called antiepileptics, belong to a diverse group of pharmaceuticals used in prevention of the occurrence of epileptic seizures. ... “Exercise” redirects here. ... Psychology (ancient Greek: psyche = soul and logos = word) is the study of mind, thought, and behaviour. ... Biofeedback mechanism. ... This article is about Becks Cognitive Therapy. ...

Pain management practitioners come from all fields of medicine. Most often, pain fellowship trained physicians are anesthesiologists, neurologists, physiatrists or psychiatrists. Some practitioners focus more on the pharmacologic management of the patient, while others are very proficient at the interventional management of pain. Interventional procedures - typically used for chronic back pain - include: epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, neurolytic blocks, Spinal Cord Stimulators and intrathecal drug delivery system implants, etc. Over the last several years the number of interventional procedures done for pain has grown to a very large number. Anesthesia (AE), also anaesthesia (BE), is the process of blocking the perception of pain and other sensations. ... Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. ... Physical medicine and rehabilitation is a particular field of medicine. ... Psychiatry is a branch of medicine dealing with the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of the mind and mental illness. ... Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) or Dorsal Column Stimulator (DCS) is an implantable medical device used to treat chronic pain of neurologic origin. ... Intrathecal: Delivered into the spinal canal (intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord), as in a spinal anaesthesia. ...

As well as medical practitioners, the area of pain management may often benefit from the input of Specialist Nurses, Physiotherapists, Clinical Psychologists & Occupational therapists, amongst others. Together the multidisciplinary team can help create a package of care suitable to the patient. Nurses is a television sitcom that ran on NBC from 1991 to 1994. ... Physical therapy (or physiotherapy[1]) is the provision of services to people and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. ... // What is Occupational Therapy? Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. ...

See also

• Back pain
• Cancer
• Coccydynia (coccyx pain, tailbone pain)
• Neuralgia
• Neuropathy
• Phantom limb pain
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Tension myositis syndrome
• Whiplash
• Yoga as exercise some studies claim that this practice can be useful for managing certain kinds of chronic pain.

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Low back pain. ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... Coccydynia is a medical condition characterized by pain in the coccyx or tailbone area. ... Neuralgia is a painful disorder of the nerves. ... Neuropathy is usually short for peripheral neuropathy, meaning a disease of the peripheral nervous system. ... This article is about the syndrome. ... A Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, more commonly referred to as a TENS unit and pronounced tens, is an electronic device that produces electrical signals used to stimulate nerves through unbroken skin. ... Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD, TMJ or TMD), or TMJ syndrome, is an umbrella term covering acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the lower jaw to the skull. ... Tension myositis syndrome (TMS) is a condition described by Dr. John E. Sarno in his books Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection (ISBN 0-446-39230-8), The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain (ISBN 0-446-67515-6), and The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody... Whiplash is the result of impulsive stretching of the spine, often the result of a rear-end collision between cars or trucks. ... A western style hatha yoga class. ...

Footnotes

External links

• International Association for the Study of Pain
• Barry Yeoman, Prisoners of Pain, AARP: The Magazine
• Back pain and neck pain information for patients
• American chronic pain association
• Pain Management Information. Alternative & Conventional Treatments
• Chronic pain support group
• Online postgrad courses in Pain management at University of Edinburgh following the International Association for the Study of Pain curriculum

Pain Talk: The national discussion forum and community for UK Healthcare Professionals with an interest in acute, chronic, or palliative Pain Management. Features articles on pain management, and a range of resources The University of Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: ), founded in 1582,[4] is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland. ...