Taking the first steps to manage pain

    Taking the first steps to manage pain
   

Pain management requires that the underlying cause of the pain be identified and treated, although pain treatment can begin before this. Clinicians might consider selecting simple, cost effective, and less invasive analgesic agents. The analgesic should be chosen based on the characteristics of the pain, individual patient, and the medication.

Clinicians need to determine the best route of administration and the dose titration that will minimize adverse events. Several analgesics may be required to achieve pain relief. Optimal pain management may also require supplementary non-pharmacological treatments, such as psychological therapies, physical rehabilitation, or surgical procedures.

Review Date:11/7/2024
Reviewed By:C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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