Chronic Pain: Examination and Treatment

Students will acquire expanded knowledge of pain physiology and pain psychology with special focus on chronic pain and the transition from acute to chronic pain. The course will focus on various pain conditions in the musculoskeletal system and in particular on more complex conditions with pain, fatigue and other symptoms that persist over time. Students will gain broad insight into "biopsychosocial" factors that may be associated with long-term symptoms; both biomedical conditions, psychological challenges and social / demographic factors that may affect patient progress and prognosis. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of the use of good patient communication and interventions approaching coping strategies for long-term pain conditions. Emphasis is placed on a comprehensive understanding of pain and a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach to treatment.

Knowledge:

After completing the course, the candidate should:

• have a broad overview of physiological, psychological and social conditions that affect the maintenance of complex pain conditions
• have a broad overview of physiological, psychological and social conditions affected by chronic pain and complex symptomatology
• have a thorough understanding of the principles of knowledge-based practice in chronic pain and complex symptomatology
• have special insight into the challenges of pain medication, particularly in chronic pain states and possible alternatives for treatment

Skills:

After completing the course, the candidate should be able to:

• discuss long-term pain and complex symptom disorders in a biopsychosocial model
• analyze the need for a broad approach and the need for multidisciplinary approach in the assessment and treatment of long-term pain
• discuss the role of various professions in the interdisciplinary team on long-term pain
• analyze psychological mechanisms of pain and compound symptom disorders and know of relevant psychological interventions
• explain the importance of physical activity and movement in the rehabilitation of chronic pain
• discuss the possibilities, limitations and special challenges of drug treatment for prolonged pain
• discuss the possibilities and limitations of nerve blocks and other intervention therapy

General competence:

After completing the course, the candidate can:

• explain basic understanding of the principles of knowledge-based practice in chronic pain and fatigue

Lectures and group work with patient cases. If few students register for the course, learning activities can be changed. The course will be effectuated under the conditions that a sufficient number of students are registered.