Understanding and managing patients with chronic pain.
The specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery has had at its core the foundations of anesthesia and pain and anxiety control. This article attempts to refamiliarize the reader with clinical pearls helpful in the management of patients with chronic pain conditions. The authors also hope to highlight the interplay of chronic pain and psychology as it relates to the oral and maxillofacial surgery patient. To that end, the article outlines and reviews the neurophysiology of pain, the definitions of pain, conditions encountered by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon that produce chronic pain, the psychological impact and comorbidities associated with patients experiencing chronic pain conditions, and concepts of multimodal treatment for patients experiencing chronic pain conditions.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Training Program, St Joseph's Regional Medical Center, 703 Main Street Paterson, NJ 07503, USA. szumitar@sjhmc.org
Richard P
RP
Szumita
Paul M
PM
Szumita
Nancy
N
Just
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002188:Cannabis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015897:Comorbidity; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central