With the rise of opioid use and overdose related deaths, research for alternative treatment approaches to pain management is expanding. Understanding how pain affects the “whole” person’s (physical, emotional, social, environmental) functioning provides the foundation for developing a comprehensive pain relief treatment program. Through exploring the history of pain management, types of pain, and how pain affects a person’s functioning, health care professionals completing this course will be better prepared to complete thorough assessments and provide safe and effective pain management treatment interventions.
