When to Refer to a Specialist

The art of treating chronic pain requires one to address both the sensory and emotional aspects of pain. Pain medicine is a relatively new field conceived out of unmet needs to help those who suffer from chronic pain. With the recent development of formal pain medicine training programs, this new specialty has promoted the application of a multidisciplinary approach to treating chronic pain conditions. Over the last decade, our treatment paradigm for chronic pain has drastically shifted from opioid based medications to nonopioid based treatments and interventions. This presentation will review the various interventional pain management treatment options and discuss when to refer to a specialist for these interventions. All healthcare professionals in the field of pain medicine, with a special emphasis for those who practice primary care medicine and noninterventional pain management, will benefit from attending this course. (Recorded at PAINWeek 2018)