Opioid therapy for chronic pain
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain Working Group. VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for management of opioid therapy for chronic pain. Washington (DC): Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense (DO NOT EDIT) [1]
Recommendations for patients with chronic pain (DO NOT EDIT) [1]
Assessment of patient |
"1. A trial of opioid therapy (OT) is indicated for a patient with chronic pain who meets all of the following criteria:
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"2. The ethical imperative is to provide the pain treatment with the best benefit-to-harm profile for the individual patient." |
Obtain Comprehensive Assessment Including: History, Physical Examination, and a Review of Diagnostic Studies
1 A comprehensive patient assessment should be completed to identify clinical conditions that may interfere with the appropriate and safe use of OT. The comprehensive assessment should include: Medical history
Physical examination
Information from the pain history and physical exam should be reviewed to ensure that the patient has had an adequate therapeutic trial of non-opioid medication therapies.
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