ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS FOR MANAGING PAIN

Course overview

CHRONIC PAIN AFFECTS MORE THAN 100 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH AN ECONOMIC BURDEN OF OVER $600 BILLION. OPIOIDS ARE COMMONLY USED IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN. THE UNITED STATES IS CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF AN OPIOID EPIDEMIC WITH INCREASED OPIOID USE OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ROLE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL CARE IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PAIN WHILE OUTLINING ALTERNATIVE NON-OPIOID PAIN TREATMENT OPTIONS. SUCH TREATMENTS INCLUDE MEDICATIONS, PHYSICAL THERAPY, EXERCISE, INJECTIONS, AND NEUROMODULATION. A BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR DESIGNING AN INDIVIDUALIZED MULTIMODAL TREATMENT PLAN.