title: Chronic pain management in dermatology: a guide to assessment and nonopioid pharmacotherapy.
abstract: Pain is a central component of illness and suffering, yet unfortunately it is frequently undertreated. In dermatology, many acute and chronic conditions are characterized by pain that may require therapeutic intervention in addition to medical treatment aimed at treating the primary disease. To date, however, there are limited recommendations or evidence in the published literature on pain and pain management strategies for patients with skin disease. In an effort to enable providers to more comprehensively and effectively treat chronic pain in the primary and multidisciplinary dermatologic context, these topics will be discussed in this 2-part continuing medical education article. Part I of this series will describe important mechanisms of pain and detail individualized chronic pain assessment and treatment strategies using nonopioid analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enamandram
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rathmell
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: harvardskinstudies@partners.org.
authors.forename: Alexandra B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kimball
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059408:Pain Management / Q000592:standards*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
keywords: hidradenitis suppurativa; nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; opioid analgesia; pain management; postherpetic neuralgia