Pain is a multifaceted issue involving nutritional, psychosocial, biochemical, neurological and physical components. The conventional medical model typically addresses pain in a unidimensional mode — with medications. With the growing awareness of the opioid epidemic, clinicians and patients are seeking to decrease pharmaceutical use and are turning to alternative therapies. The first section of the Foundations course offers a review of the physiology of pain, factors affecting the transition from acute to chronic, current pharmaceutical strategies, and opioid deprescribing.

The second section of the course offers and in-depth look at a wide variety of integrative modalities including nutritional approaches, mind-body therapies, manual therapy techniques, acupuncture, and many more. This course will discuss the evidence for safety and benefit of these modalities in the settings of acute and chronic pain. Finally, the strength of evidence for specific pain syndromes will be covered.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss strategies for de-prescribing opiate medications.
2. Recognize the current state of affairs for the management for chronic pain in the United States.
3. Discuss the role of Integrative Medicine in the management of pain.
4. Review the pathophysiology of acute pain and chronic pain.
5. Identify the risk factors that contribute to acute pain converting into chronic pain and discuss strategies for modification of these risk factors.
6. Review the current risks and benefits of pharmaceuticals for the management of pain.
7. Assess the evidence for the safety and benefit of nutrition, dietary supplements, herbal therapies, Traditional Chinese Medicine, hypnosis, mindfulness, guided imagery, biofeedback, energy medicine and movement and therapies for the management of pain.
8. Recognize when modalities are indicated or contraindicated.
9. Recognize effective integrative treatments based on the strength of evidence for pain states.

Curriculum

• Introduction to Pain Management
• Current Pharmacological Management
• Post Surgical Pain
• Central Sensitization / Autonomic Pain Syndromes
• Topicals in Pain Management
• Deprescribing Opioids
• General Nutritional Approaches to Pain
• Advanced Dietary Approaches to Pain
• Dietary Supplements in Pain Management
• Mind-Body Therapies for Pain
• Clinical Hypnosis for Pain
• TCM and Acupuncture
• Manual Medicine
• Other IM Therapies
• Pulling It All Together
• Course Evaluation
• Exam

Completion Requirements

Complete all the coursework, course evaluation, and the final test with a score of 70% or better. Upon successful completion, you will be able to print your certificate of completion.

Target Audience

This enduring material educational program is intended for physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, psychologists, and psychiatrists in any specialty. In addition, all healthcare professionals who have an interest in an integrative approach to healing are targeted.

Certificate

When all of the above requirements are met (during the agreed-upon timeline), a link for the completion certificate is available to download and print anytime from "My Account." If a specific credit type was selected at registration, your certificate will indicate earned credits.

Disclaimer

This course does not constitute medical advice. Healthcare providers should exercise their own independent medical judgment.

All case studies and patient scenarios in this course are used for illustrative purposes. All depictions of persons (other than faculty) are models and not actual patients.