EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN - THE ANALGESIC DILEMMA

How can the ''analgesic dilemma'' in chronic pain be resolved? One par tial solution may lie in the development of new pharmacologic agents t hat avoid some of the traps of current options. Another solution lies in educating physicians, patients, and those who pay for and regulate healthcare about the importance of effective, individualized managemen t of chronic pain. Finally, physicians need to look at the whole perso n to determine the appropriate role of pharmacologic therapy in managi ng chronic pain.