NONPHARMACOLOGIC INTERVENTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN IN OLDER WOMEN

Chronic pain can induce tremendous suffering, seriously affect the qua lity of life, and impair optimal daily functioning in older adults. Ad vances in the conceptualization and treatment of pain support the use of a multimodal approach to pain management incorporating both pharmac ologic and nonpharmacologic interventions for the most effective manag ement of chronic pain. Nonpharmacologic interventions, used concomitan tly with pharmacologic approaches, typically result in more effective pain control, less reliance on medications, fewer side effects, less c linical impairment and an increased sense of personal control over pai n.