This course is available as a standalone CE course or as an elective for our new Advanced Practice Certification.

Ever wonder why the same treatment does not work for a seemingly “same” patient? Pain is a unique, individualized pain experience and it’s well established that treatments should be tailored to patient individual needs. But what about patients at scale? Where to start? Pain is obviously complex and multi-dimensional. This lecture will showcase how a clinical model, developed 25 years ago, has not only stood the test of time and scrutiny of science, but provide an easy place to start for all healthcare providers: pain mechanisms. This model divides pain into three clinical categories – nociceptive, peripheral neuropathic and central sensitization (nociplastic pain).

By dividing a patient’s pain experience into one of these fundamental mechanisms, it helps clinicians to clearly define relevant next steps when it comes to evaluation tools and tests. The examination – subjective and objective must be different between these 3 types of pain. Ultimately, it drives treatment choices, ensuring optimal treatment tools for each pain mechanism. Treatments that favor nociceptive-based pain states are very limited for patients with central sensitization and vice versa. What about neuropathic pain. This session is a cornerstone in the evaluation and treatment of pain in the 21st century.

Course Outcomes