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Algorithms of Pain Treatment

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Abstract

The treatment of chronic pain is a complex process that presents physicians with many unique challenges. The subjective nature of pain and its widespread association with many different disease states have led to the development of a systemic approach to pain treatment. More specifically, physicians have focused on the creation of various pain treatment algorithms to methodize approaches to treatment and set standards of care. This chapter will first present the tools commonly utilized in the initial assessment and evaluation of chronic pain patients, which is typically the first step in any pain treatment algorithm. Next, the World Health Organization’s analgesic ladder will be discussed, as it is one of the most widely practiced algorithms in treating chronic pain patients. Lastly, we will explain the current treatment guidelines for various common pain states.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, New York City, NY, USA

    Andrew So

  2. Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Montefiore Multidisciplinary Pain Program, The Bronx, NY, USA

    Karina Gritsenko

Authors
  1. Andrew So
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  2. Karina Gritsenko
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Spine and Nerve Center of the Virginias, Charleston, WV, USA

    Timothy R. Deer

  2. Evolve Restorative Center, Santa Rosa, CA, USA

    Jason E. Pope

  3. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Tim J. Lamer

  4. Pain Diagnostics and Interventional Care, Sewickley, PA, USA

    David Provenzano

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So, A., Gritsenko, K. (2019). Algorithms of Pain Treatment. In: Deer, T., Pope, J., Lamer, T., Provenzano, D. (eds) Deer's Treatment of Pain. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12281-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12281-2_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-12280-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-12281-2

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