Managing Neuropathic Pain: When to Refer to a Specialist

Program Description:

Among the many manifestations of chronic pain experienced by patients, neuropathic pain syndromes are among the most challenging to diagnose and treat. This presentation focuses on the diagnosis and management of common neuropathic pain conditions, with special emphasis on when it is appropriate to refer the patient to a pain specialist.

Agenda
Introduction: 5 minutes
Presentation: 80 minutes
Post-test and Evaluation: 5 minutes

INTENDED AUDIENCE:

Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, RNs, and other healthcare professionals who treat patients with neuropathic pain.

Activity Objectives:

After taking part in this educational activity, participants should be better able to:

• Describe commonly encountered neuropathic pain syndromes


• Describe current diagnostic strategies for neuropathic pain


• Describe current available treatments for neuropathic pain


• Identify when it is appropriate to refer a patient with neuropathic pain to a pain specialist

Credits	Type	Accreditation Statement	Designation Statement
1.50	AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM	This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Global Education Group (Global) and Haymarket Medical Education. Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.	Global Education Group designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
1.50	CE for Nurses	Global Education Group is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA.	This educational activity for 1.50 contact hours is provided by Global Education Group. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Faculty:

Charles E. Argoff, MD, CPE
Professor of Neurology
Director, Comprehensive Pain Center
Albany Medical Center
Department of Neurology
Albany, NY

Disclosures:

Accreditor Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest Policy:
Global Education Group (Global) requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouse/life partner who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Charles E. Argoff, MD, CPE is a consultant/Independent Contractor for Cephalon, Inc.; Depomed Inc.; Endo Pharmaceuticals; Forest Laboratories, Inc.; Lilly USA, LLC; Pfizer Inc.; sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. He receives Grant/Research Support from: Endo Pharmaceuticals; Forest Laboratories, Inc.; Lilly USA, LLC; Pfizer Inc. Dr. Argoff is on the Speakers' Bureau for Endo Pharmaceuticals; Forest Laboratories, Inc.; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Lilly USA, LLC; Pfizer Inc. and receives honoraria from: Endo Pharmaceuticals; Forest Laboratories, Inc.; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Lilly USA, LLC; and Pfizer Inc. He is also a stock shareholder in Pfizer Inc.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Global Education Group Disclosures:
Jackie Dawson, MSN, has nothing to disclose. Amanda Glazar, PhD, has nothing to disclose.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Global Education Group (Global) and myCME.com (Haymarket Medical Education) do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Commercial Support:

There is no commercial support for this activity.

Sponsor:

This program is jointly sponsored by Global Education Group and Haymarket Medical Education. There is no fee for this educational activity.

     

Producer
Produced in conjunction with myCME.com and Haymarket Medical.

If you have any questions relating to the accreditation of this activity, please contact Global Education Group at 303-395-1782 or inquire@globaleducationgroup.com.

Instructions:

To obtain credit, a score of 70% or better is required. This CME/CE activity is offered at no cost to participants. Please proceed with the activity until you have successfully completed this program, answered all test questions, completed the post-test survey, and have received your digital copy of your credit certificate. Your online certificate will be saved on myCME.com within your Profile/Exam History, which you can then access at any time.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

WINDOWS PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
266-MHz Pentium II; Windows 98 or higher; 64 MB RAM; 800 x 600 screen resolution set for “High Color (16-Bit)”; Macromedia Flash Player 6 or higher.

MACINTOSH^® SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
Power Mac g3 at 300 MHz; System 8.5 or higher (excluding Mac OSX); 96 MB RAM; 20 MB minimum hard disk space available; 800 x 600 screen resolution set to “Thousands of Colors”; Macromedia Flash Player 6 or higher.