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chronic pain

NACPAC website offers help for chronic pain sufferers

NACPAC website offers help for chronic pain sufferers

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The North American Chronic Pain Association of Canada (NACPAC) is a "self-help organization dedicated to providing support to people in chronic pain, and to giving them assistance in living their lives to the fullest." NACPAC is a registered Canadian Charity and has its own web-site at http://www3.sympatico.ca/nacpac. The website offers information about chronic pain, support groups in Canada, a directory of Canadian pain clinics and pain specialists, related associations and resource lists, links to other chronic pain information on the web, medical information, reference material, book suggestions and more.

November 8th to14th is Chronic Pain Awareness Week in Canada. NACPAC encourages anyone touched by chronic pain to educate others on the plight of chronic pain sufferers in Canada. If you are unable to access NACPAC via the web, their toll free number is 1-800-616-7246.

Related Terms: Other, chronic pain

Chronic Pain Management: Older People Need Better Access to Opioid Analgesics

Chronic Pain Management: Older People Need Better Access to Opioid Analgesics

Teaser: 

Sherene Chen See is a freelance writer from Toronto, Ontario. We regret that Sherene Chen See's articles are not available on-line.

 

Key Recommendations for the Pharmacological Management of Chronic Pain in the Older Person1

Acetaminophen is the drug of choice for relieving mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain.

Opioid analgesic drugs are effective for relieving moderate to severe pain. Regulatory agencies should review their policies to allow older patients better access to opioid analgesic drugs for pain.

Non-opioid analgesic medications (including atypical pain modulating drugs like tricyclics and anticonvulsants) may be appropriate for some patients with neuropathic pain and other chronic pain syndromes.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be used with caution. In older people NSAIDs have significant side effects and are the most common cause of adverse drug reactions, especially in the frail elderly.

1 The management of chronic pain in older persons: AGS Panel on Chronic Pain in Older Persons. American Geriatrics Society. J Am Geriatr Soc 1998;46(5):635-51.

Related Terms: Drug Safety, chronic pain, opioid analgesics