The Division of Pain Medicine has compiled informative resources to help guide patients in dealing successfully with chronic pain.
We in the Division of Pain Medicine regard patients as partners in managing chronic pain. Consequently, we believe that well-informed patients are in the best position to understand and gain control over their response to pain.
We have compiled some informative resources to help guide patients in dealing successfully with chronic pain.
Scott Fishman, M.D., director of the UC Davis Center for Advancing Pain Relief, presented a lecture about pain and wellness during the Winter 2023 “Pain Matters” Lecture Series. In the lecture, he discussed:
Aspirin and ibuprofen often are insufficient in suppressing intense pain. That’s why faculty members in the UC Davis Division of Pain Medicine in search of new, more effective therapies have been investigating a potentially more potent pain management drug derived from an unconventional source: the venom of tarantulas. Learn about the team of researchers hoping to transform tarantula venom into pain relief medication.
Opioid medications are sometimes prescribed for patients experiencing intense pain, but they can be dangerous. This online pamphlet titled “Some Things You Should Know About Opioids Before Starting a Prescription” tells you about important cautions to keep in mind.
Opioid narcotic drugs generally are safe when following a prescribing physician’s instructions and when used only for a short time following a traumatic injury or surgery. But when misused, opioids can become addictive or life-threatening. Fortunately another drug called naloxone can counter the dangerous effects of overdose. Learn how naloxone can save lives.
A person who has overdosed on opioids may exhibit any of these symptoms: tiny, pinpoint pupils; slow and shallow breathing; or unconsciousness and unresponsiveness. This pamphlet explains how to use naloxone (known by the brand name Narcan) to resuscitate a person who is experiencing an overdose of an opioid drug.
Medications aren’t the only means to manage pain, as this pamphlet explains in an overview of pain treatment approaches.
