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Effective Pain Management Must Be More Than Just Meds [task force report] 

Home » Blog » Effective Pain Management Must Be More Than Just Meds [task force report] 
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by Dr. Payem Vahedifar M.D. on January 8, 2019 (last updated on March 15, 2019) | Leave a Comment

A federal task force is calling for a far more individualized approach to pain management in the wake of the opioid epidemic.

The history of opioids in pain management is like a pendulum that has oscillated over a couple of centuries. Throughout the 19th century opioids were widely used to remedy both acute and chronic pain. As time passed, the dangerous properties of opioids became evident. From the 1920s until the 1990s, prescriptive use of opioids was severely restricted. Opioids were prescribed only to ease pain after traumatic injury, during recovery from surgery, and during end-of-life situations.

In the 1990s, the American Medical Association (AMA) categorized pain as a fifth vital sign 

Pain was as significant an indicator of a patient’s current health as pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, and blood pressure.

Physicians were strongly advised to ascertain their patients’ pain levels. When pain levels became elevated, treatment was expected to ensue. The treatment provided was usually the most convenient, i.e., a prescription for opioids. The inevitable result was a steep increase in the use of opioids by patients.

Opioids enjoyed a consequent resurgence of popularity 

This surge in opioid use was also boosted by the non-stop promotional activities of pharmaceutical companies.

  • As of 2012, physicians were annually writing as many opioid prescriptions as there were people in the United States.
  • By 2016, abuse of opioid drugs had reached a level often described as an epidemic.

The AMA retracts its description of pain as a vital sign 

The negative aspects of prolonged opioid use soon began to receive increased public attention. In 2016, the AMA retracted its description of pain as a vital sign. It also took other steps to discourage physicians from overprescribing opioids. Even so, more than 72,000 overdose deaths attributed to opioids (both prescriptive and illicit) occurred in 2017.

All these factors have caused the opioid pendulum to swing forcefully towards strict limitations on opioid prescription.

Federal task force publishes a draft report for public comment 

The very real suffering endured by millions of chronic pain patients continues. In some cases, the new restrictions have resulted in depriving patients of any effective tool against their pain.

In response, physicians and their chronic pain patients are seeking effective alternative tools. This search is the focus of a December 31, 2018 draft report from the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency, a federal task force. This task force was set up by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016.

Among the draft report’s factual findings are: 

  • Chronic pain impacts 50 million adults in the United States. Of these, about 20 million experience what the report calls “high-impact” pain. This is defined as pain that significantly interferes with daily life and work activities.
  • Effective pain treatment needs to look at all aspects of a patient, including biology, social ties, and individual psychology. This means looking beyond pharmaceutical alternatives to opioids.
  • Exercise, monitored physical therapy, treatment modalities such as acupuncture and biofeedback should all support the formulation of an effective treatment plan.

“It is imperative to strike a balance between ensuring that patients with painful conditions can work with their healthcare providers to develop an integrative pain treatment plan that optimizes function, quality of life, and productivity,” the task force emphasized in the report.

The task force also addressed what it views as flaws in the guidelines promulgated in 2016 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Misinterpretations and gaps in the CDC’s guidelines have led to what the report calls “unintended consequences”. The report emphasizes the need to protect the provider-patient relationship by continuing to provide access to effective medication regimens.

The draft report is now in its public comment phase until April 1, 2019. For 90 days, the Department of Health and Human Services will accept and review responses from interested members of the public.

Why Nuvo Spine and Sports is your best choice for pain management 

We approach our work armed with tried and true medical techniques and state-of-the-art regenerative strategies bred from sports medicine and the neurological sciences.

The Nuvo team of medical professionals is solely dedicated to minimizing or eradicating pain by resolving the underlying conditions that cause the pain. We are proud that we consistently achieve that goal and successfully enhance our patients’ overall quality of life.

To request more information or schedule a consultation, please call (888) 370-9334 or make your appointment online.

Read the full article at: www.fiercehealthcare.com

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Dr. Payem Vahedifar M.D.

Dr. Payem Vahedifar M.D.

Dr. Vahedifar graduated with honors from UCLA and then from Tulane University College of Medicine where he did extensive research on nerve-associated pain. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a member of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Vahedifar's pain management strategies integrate cutting-edge medical technology with targeted interventions to minimize pain and treat pain’s underlying causes.
Dr. Payem Vahedifar M.D.

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About
ABOUT OUT PRACTICE
ABOUT OUR DOCTOR
ABOUT OUR LOCATIONS
Conditions
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical Spinal Stenosis (CSS)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Facet Joint Pain
Herniated Discs
Knee Arthritis
Labrum Tears
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS)
Meniscus Tears
Hip Arthritis
Plantar Fasciitis
Rotator Cuff Injury
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Sciatica (Lumbar Radiculopathy)
Spinal Compression Fractures
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Procedures
A2M (Alpha 2 Macroglobulin)
Adipose and Bone Marrow Aspiration Stem Cell Therapies
Advanced Neurostimulation
Biological Therapy
Disc-FX® System
Epidural for Pain Treatment
Facet Joint Injection
Fluoroscopy Guided Injection
Genicular Nerve Block
HydroDiscectomy / SpineJet™ Percutaneous HydroDiscectomy
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)
Intrathecal Pump
Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty
MILD Procedure for Spinal Stenosis
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
PRP for Chronic Back Pain
PRP for Hip Arthritis
PRP for Rotator Cuff Injury
PRP for Whiplash
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Spinal Cord Stimulators
Stem Cell Therapy
Sympathetic Nerve Block
Traumeel injections
Superion Procedure
Zeel Injections
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WHAT REAL PATIENTS SAY ABOUT DR. VAHEDIFAR

Dr. Vahedifar is amazing! I have been to numerous doctors for my spine as I have several herniations that are incredibly painful. Dr. Vahedifar is literally the best. Spine herniations are scary; but he eases my mind because he is so intelligent and well-read—something that is so important to people who live with daily pain.
Suzanne G.
The patient care is excellent from the moment you walk in. Dr.Vahedifar is always on time and very thorough. Great staff also. He listens carefully and thinks of all possibilities to help with the problem.
Christine H.
Dr. Vahedifar is very compassionate and knowledgeable  I have been seeing Dr. Vahedifar for the past 7 years and he is the best Dr that I have ever had in my life. The office staff is also very helpful and supportive too. Thank you to Dr. Vahedifar and his staff!
Dionne W.
There's nobody else you should consider for pain management. I've going to Dr. Vahedifar for a long time for various spine and ailments and by far he is the best at what he does at diagnosing and managing pain. He is well known amongst his peers and doctors through out Los Angeles and that says a lot. His staff is superior and his diagnostic abilities are superior.
Steven B.
I have always valued Dr. Vahedifar as he has been able to manage my issues better than any other medical professional, and I had been suffering with these particular issues for years. I know that I can send an email and get a response by phone or a reply in a timely manner which is very important!
Alison F.
I have been a patient of Dr. Vahedifar for 9 years and he has managed to alleviate my excruciating pain with kindness and compassion. My quality of life has improved, because Dr. V is a brilliant doctor that keeps up with all of the latest techniques. I trust him 100%! .  
Dani D.
I have been so impressed and pleased with Dr. Vahedifar and his entire staff, that I have referred many patients to him over the last decade or so. Thank you so much for all you do.
Rhonda S.
Dr. Vahedifar has been my doctor now for about 10 years. He is the kindest, most compassionate and knowledgeable orthopedic physician I have experienced. He has been a lifesaver for me. If you are having chronic pain orthopedic or neuralgia PLEASE make an appointment with him. You will not regret it
Gallob J.
I highly recommend Dr. Vahedifar, he is as good as it gets. He is an extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and caring doctor.  I had a couple of epidurals done on my back, getting me out of the severe pain I was in from my herniated disc.
Nader Y.
Dr. Vahedifar has been my doctor for many years! He's always been compassionate and explained any/all options available to me. My family appreciates that he has given me back a quality of life that I would not have were it not for him. I trust Dr. Vahedifar 100% to do his best for me.
ERIK S.
Unless you have experienced pain there are no words that can describe it. Dr. Vahedifar is a doctor will work to find a way to help. He is gentle and caring and spends the time explaining and listening to the patient. Thank goodness I have finally found him. I feel like I might believe in miracles!
Yvonne L.
Dr. Vahedifar is very understanding & compassionate. I have been seeing him off and on for over 5 years and don’t plan on going anywhere else. His staff is also kind and caring.
Arin W.

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