Pain management is a vast subject and is changing rapidly. Finding a good resource for learning, however, is difficult. This book covers the entire curriculum relating to pain management and will make it easy to learn all aspects of the subject by covering key concepts in a reader-friendly manner. It comprises nine concise and simple chapters that aim to impart the maximum information within a limited space. These chapters address anatomy, assessment of pain, diagnosis of pain, pharmacology, non-pharmacological pain management, acute and chronic pain management, pain management in special groups, and special techniques. Pain Management: Essential Topics for Examinations will be an ideal resource for those who plan to sit for examinations, wherever they are based in the world. In addition, it will be an invaluable reference for higher and advanced pain trainees, residents, and physicians working in chronic pain.

Anatomy: Anatomy of pain pathway

Mechanisms of pain (peripheral and central sensitisation)
Classification of pain - nociceptive, neuropathic pain
Acute and chronic pain
Nociceptors. Assessment of pain: Patient evaluation - history and physical examination
Assessment and measurement of acute pain
Assessment of chronic pain
Assessment in elderly
Assessment in paediatrics. Diagnosis of pain: Radiography
Fluoroscopy
Ultrasonography
Nuclear medicine and PET
CT
MRI
Electromyography
Quantitative sensory testing. Pharmacology: Opioids
Nonopioids - NSAIDs, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, sodium and calcium channel antagonists, tramadol
Topical agents
Alternative and herbal pharmaceuticals
Placebo. Non pharmacological pain management: Psychological and psychosocial evaluation
Biofeedback
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Functional restoration of patients with pain
Occupational therapy
Hypnosis
Relaxation and imagery
Family support
Pain management program. Acute pain management: Post surgical pain management
Pain management for trauma
Labour pain management
Burn pain
Acute low back pain
Patient controlled analgesia. Chronic pain management: Neuropathic pain
Ischaemic and visceral pain
Fibromyalgia, arthritic and myofascial pain
Headache
Cancer pain
Abdominal pain
Neck pain and whiplash injury
Facial pain
Neck and arm pain
Herpes zoster and post herpetic neuralgia
Pain following spinal cord injury
Chronic Low back pain
Orofacial pain
Trigeminal pain
Aids related pain
Arthritis
CRPS
Fibromyalgia
Peripheral neuropathy
Sickle cell
phantom pain
HIV
Pelvic pain Special groups: Paediatric
Addiction
Elderly Special techniques: Acupuncture
Intrathecal drug delivery
Botulinum toxin
Spinal cord stimulation
Epidural steroids
Facet joint injections
Radiofrequency ablation
Peripheral nerve stimulation
TENS
Physiotherapy.