A significant amount of research has indicated that many, if not all, types of pain are undertreated. Some data indicate that only 25% of patients treated for pain receive adequate relief. In addition, several studies have shown that various pain-relieving techniques may be used inappropriately, which can result in patient harm. “38th Annual Evaluating and Treating Pain” is a live course held each spring in Boston. It provides a comprehensive review and update of the basic science and advances in the field of pain medicine.

The faculty includes specialists in many aspects of pain medicine including anesthesiology, neurology, psychiatry and psychology, internal medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedic surgery, interventional radiology, and neurosurgery. Participants learn how to diagnose common pain problems and explore various options for treatment of chronic pain, acute pain, and cancer-related pain. Pharmacologic, behavioral, and interventional treatments of pain will be discussed. Ample time will be spent addressing the role of opioids in the management of pain.

Who Should Attend

• Primary Care Physicians
• Specialty Physicians
• Psychologists

And providers who practice in the fields of:

• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Pain Medicine
• Anesthesiology

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Assess methods to manage end-of-life pain.
• Compare and contrast various pain-relieving techniques.
• Apply current guidelines for the management of pediatric pain.
• Discuss the benefits and appropriate use of yoga and other non-pharmacologic pain-relieving options.

Agenda

All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.

Carol Warfield, MD

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Carol Warfield, MD

Lessons from the Past for Providing State-of-the-Art Pain Management in the Present

Jenny Cheng

Pathophysiology of Pain: A 2024 Update

How to Perform a Psychosocial Assessment of Pain and Guidance to Act or Refer Based Upon Your Findings

Break

Emily Wang, MD

How to Perform a Focused Musculoskeletal Evaluation of the Patient in Pain: Practical Techniques and Maneuvers

Patricia Greenstein, MB, BCH

Focused Neurologic Evaluation of the Patient in Pain: Practical Techniques and Maneuvers

Carol Warfield, MD; Joshua Smith; Patricia Greenstein, MB, BCH; Emily Wang, MD

Pose Your Questions to the Experts

Lunch Break (On your own)

Joseph Audette, MA, MD

Updates on Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain 

Emily Wang, MD

Practical Pointers for Performing a Disability Evaluation

Break

Joseph Audette, MA, MD

Herbal and Nutritional Supplements: What Works and What Doesn’t 

Joseph Audette, MA, MD

Acupuncture, Tai Chi and Other Alternative Methods for Pain Relief 

Joseph Audette, MA, MD; Emily Wang, MD; Carol Warfield, MD

Pose Your Questions to the Expert

Break

Tulsi Mehta Chase, Ed.M; Balachundhar Subramaniam, MD, MPH

Workshop A: Using Yoga and Breathing Tools to Relieve Back and Neck Pain

Breakfast

Paul Mathew, MD, FAAN, FAHS

Diagnosis and Treatment of Headache in 2024

Sait Ashina, MD, FAHS

Updates on Nerve Blocks, Botulinum Toxin, and Anatomy of Craniofacial Pain

Paul Mathew, MD, FAAN, FAHS

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Break

Paul Mathew, MD, FAAN, FAHS

Cervicogenic Headache vs Occipital Neurlagia vs Migrainous Cervicalgia

Mechanistic Based Treatment of Neuropathic Pain 

Sait Ashina, MD, FAHS; Paul Mathew, MD, FAAN, FAHS

Pose Your Questions to the Experts

Lunch Break (On your own)

Thomas Simopoulos, MA, MD

Update on the Management of Peripheral Neuropathy

Anne Louise Oaklander, MD, PhD, FAAN, FANA

Painful Neuropathies: Diagnosis and Remediation

Break

Amanda Macone, MD

Post Herpetic Neuralgia and Post Herpetic Itch

Thomas Simopoulos, MA, MD

Update on the Evaluation and Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Paul Mathew, MD, FAAN, FAHS; Thomas Simopoulos, MA, MD; Amanda Macone, MD

Pose Your Questions to the Experts

Break

Paul Mathew, MD, DNBPAS, FAAN, FAHS; Sait Ashina, MD, FAHS; Amanda Macone, MD

Workshop B: Learn How to Perform Botulinum Toxin Injections for Pain Relief

Breakfast

Mihir Kamdar, MD

Causes of Cancer Pain and Expanded Options for Its Management

Sanjeet Narang, MBBS, DA, MD

Interventional Techniques for Cancer Pain Management

Mihir Kamdar, MD

Pain Management – A Palliative Care Perspective

Mihir Kamdar, MD; Sanjeet Narang, MBBS, DA, MD

Pose Your Questions to the Experts

Break

Arun Ramappa, MD

Medical and Surgical Treatment of Shoulder and Knee Disorders

Thanh Dinh, DPM

Foot Pain

Thanh Dinh, DPM; Mihir Kamdar, MD; Arun Ramappa, MD

Pose Your Questions to the Experts

Lunch Break (On your own)

Thomas Simopoulos, MA, MD

Update on the Pathophysiology of Low Back pain and How to Differentiate Its Cause

How to Deliver the Best Care for Neck and Back Pain

Break

Christopher Gilligan, MD, MBA

Interventional Techniques for Spinal Pain

Eric Woodard, MD

When and Why to Consider Surgical Management of Spinal Pain

Thomas Simopoulos,MA, MD; Chris Gilligan, MD, MBA

Pose Your Questions to the Experts

Breakfast

R. Joshua Wootton, MDiv, PhD

Dealing with the Difficult Patient – Part I

Jyotsna Nagda, MD

Abdominal and Pelvic Pain

Carol Warfield, MD; R. Joshua Wootton, MDiv, PhD; Jyotsna Nagda, MD

Pose Your Questions to the Experts

Break

Jatinder Gill, MD

Ketamine for Refractory Pain

Brian E McGeeney, MD, MPH, MBA

Medical Marijuana: If, when, Why, and How to Prescribe for Pain

Lee Simon, MD

Updates on NSAIDS & COX-2 Inhibitors

Jatinder Gill, MD; Brian E McGeeney,MD, MPH, MBA; Lee Simon, MD;  Carol Warfield, MD

Pose Your Questions to the Experts

Lunch Break (On Your Own)

Christine Sang, MD, MPH

New Analgesic Research

Edward Michna, MD, JD

Opioids: Rational Prescribing and Medico-legal Considerations

Break

Alan Wartenberg, MD, FACP, DFASAM

Addiction Psychopharmacology Update

Toxicology Screening for Opioids

Edward Michna; Carol Warfield; Alan Wartenberg

Pose Your Questions to the Experts

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