Pain Assessment and Management: Role of the PT

Course overview

Pain is a complex phenomenon. It can warn us that we are, or are attempting to go, beyond what is safe for our bodies. It can indicate a pathophysiology that requires medical attention; however, sometimes, pain can be an unreliable indicator of illness or injury. At other times, pain from common conditions, such as fibromyalgia or migraine headaches, may have no specific, identifiable physical pathology, but the patient can experience a significant degree of pain. Pain can be acute, or persistent/chronic, lasting for moths or years and interfering with an individual's life. Pain is experienced differently by each individual. The experience of pain and the way individuals react to it varies with culture, age, and co-existing medical or mental health conditions. Adding to the complexity of the pain phenomenon is the way individuals respond to the treatment of the pain. Persons with the same diagnosis may receive nearly identical treatment, but respond quite differently. This makes it especially important to assess pain carefully, and to develop an individualized plan of care for each patient. This education course will present a brief overview of pain, including current terminology and different pain types. An overview of pain assessment and both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment will be presented, including general concepts of physical therapy treatment for chronic pain. This course will empower the physical therapy professional to understand the vital role they play in helping their patients to reclaim their lives. Resources for further reading will also be provided.