Pain Medicine—A Multidisciplinary Approach

Abstract

This is designed as a textbook for medical practitioners preparing for higher qualification examinations in pain medicine, as well as a reference book for other medical and allied healthcare workers. A unique feature of the book is its multidisciplinary approach to manage pain. This is reflected by the contributors' multi-national/cultural origin and the diversity in their medical background (anaesthesiology, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, internal medicine, clinical oncology, clinical psychology, nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy). Essential topics in pain medicine are grouped under five sections: scientific basis of pain medicine, common clinical pain conditions, pain pharmacology, interventional procedures, and multidisciplinary approach. Different aspects and approaches in modern pain medicine are covered, including advances in research on pain mechanism, pain psychology, epidemiology, diagnosis, pain assessment, patient evaluation, pain medications, up-to-date interventional procedures, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other specialized therapeutic modalities. Besides the above topics, which assist the patient in fighting acute, chronnic, and cancer pain, there are two chapters dedicated to paediatric and geriatric patients respectively, as special consideration is need for these age groups.