pain management
TRANSCRIPT
Interven'onal Procedures in Chronic
Pain Dr Brendan Moore Specialist Pain Medicine Physician Adjunct Associate Professor
University of Queensland
Origins of lumbar pain
• Degenera've Discs • Vertebral fractures • Spinal / Foraminal Stenosis
• Disc Bulge / Prolapse • Facet Joint • Muscle / So@ 'ssue
Invasive Treatment Op'ons
• Surgery • Facet Joint Injec'on • Radiofrequency medial branch abla'on • Epidural / Caudal steroid • Vertebroplasty • Coeliac / Lumbar Sympathe'c Plexus Blocks • Sacro-‐iliac Joint injec'on
Posterior Elements
• Facet Joints frequently implicated in pain • Mechanical back pain with upper leg and buNock radia'on
Appropriate conditions for interventional pain procedures
• Aseptic conditions
• Monitored sedation with anaesthetist in attendance
• Image intensifying X-ray or CT guidance
• Appropriate analgesia
Procedures
• Epidural injections – Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Caudal
• Facet joint injections
• Sacroiliac joint injections
• Medial branch blocks
• Radiofrequency nerve ablation
Epidural injections
• Most effective in the presence of nerve root compression and spinal stenosis
• Increased efficacy if given in the first weeks of the onset of pain
• Effects of the injection tend to be temporary (1 week to 1 year)
• Can be beneficial in providing relief for patients during an episode of severe back pain
• Allows patients to progress in their rehabilitation
Lumbar epidural injection
• 18G or 16G Toohey needle
• Radio-opaque contrast to confirm position
• Injection and distribution of local anaesthetic and steroid to nerve root
Facet joint injections
• Back pain originating from facet joints
• Low back pain (unilateral or bilateral) and no root tension signs or neurological deficits
• Pain usually being aggravated by extension of the spine
• Facet joint injection may reduce inflammation and provide pain relief
• Therapeutic goal and potential benefit – Temporary relief from pain – Patient may proceed into an appropriate exercise program"
Facet Joint Injec'on
• Primarily diagnos'c • 25G Spinal needle • LA + Steroid • Steroid confers possible longer term benefit
Sacroiliac joint injection
• Indicated with referred pain
• Pain referral pattern – area around and just caudal to the posterior superior iliac spine
• Referred pain in the low back, buttocks, abdomen, groin or legs
• In some patients, S-1 joint injections can provide significant pain relief"
Sacroiliac joint injection
• Diagnostic
• 25G spinal needle
• Local anaesthetic + steroid
• Steroid indicative of possible long-term benefit
Medial branch blocks
• Medial branch nerves are the very small nerve branches that controls sensation of the facet joint
• Indicated in low back pain (unilateral or bilateral)
• Pain usually aggravated by extension of the spine
• Medial branch blocks are a diagnostic procedure
• Can provide temporary pain relief
Medial branch nerve ablation
• Diagnostic medial branch blocks
• Local anaesthetic + steroid
• Progress to radiofrequency ablation if diagnostic block indicative of long-term benefit
Radiofrequency neurotomy
X-ray to confirm needle position – AP and oblique views
Test stimulation – 2.0 Hz 0–2 volt to test for motor nerve contact
Lesion 85°C for 90 seconds
Facet joint injection
• Diagnostic
• 25G spinal needle
• Local anaesthetic + steroid
• Steroid indicative of possible long-term benefit
Strategy Psychosocial Assessment
§ medical history – any flags/concerns/drug seeking § Thinking paNerns – helpful or unhelpful § Social interac'ons -‐ family, friends, spouse § Behaviours -‐ ac'vity levels, avoidance, anything harmful § Sleep paNerns – any changes
Testing § Beck Depression Inventory – BDI § Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – DASS § Personality Assessment Inventory -‐ PAI
Reality Check
§ Why is the pa'ent here? § Mo'va'on to RTW? § Any secondary gain from sick role? § Are they prepared to do the hard work? § Do they expect to be fixed? § What do they agree to, if they don’t comply?
Invisible Tool Kit
§ Goal se\ng § Pacing § Journaling § Thought Management – CBT, ACT § Relaxa'on and self regula'on strategies § Relapse preven'on planning
Opioids in Chronic Pain Dr Brendan Moore Pain Medicine Specialist Physician Adjunct Associate Professor
University of Queensland
Suggested maximum opioid dose
• Consult a Pain Medicine Specialist if higher doses considered necessary
1. Hunter Integrated Pain Service. Opioid use in persistent pain. November 2010
Drug Maximum dose for GP prescription
Morphine 120mg daily Oxycodone 80mg daily Hydromorphone 24 mg daily Methadone 40mg daily Fentanyl transdermal patch 25 mcg/hr applied every 3 days Buprenorphine transdermal patch 40 mcg/hr applied weekly Tramadol 400 mg daily
Dose conversion
Morphine equivalence to
Ratio morphine : named opioid
Examples of equivalent doses
Codeine 1:6 Morphine 10 mg Codeine 60 mg Oxycodone 1.5:1 Morphine 60 mg Oxycodone 40 mg Hydromorphone 5:1 Morphine 60 mg Hydromorphone 12 mg
Tramadol 1:5 Morphine 10 mg Tramadol 50 mg Fentanyl Morphine 90 mg Fentanyl 25 mcg/h Buprenorphine 75:1 Morphine 9 mg Buprenorphine 5 mcg/h
Methadone 3:1 Morphine 60 mg Methadone 20 mg
1. Hunter Integrated Pain Service. Opioid use in persistent pain. November 2010
Opioid trial guidelines
• Commence trial with low dose sustained-release opioid
Use a lower dose and titrate slowly in patients
who are:
• Elderly • Taking other CNS depressants • Opioid naïve • Have severe hepatic or renal dysfunction
1. Graziotti & Goucke, 1997.
Review of opioid trial
• Discuss progress and outcomes
• Functional goals achieved? • Medication used responsibly? • Discuss risks / benefits of continued therapy • Assess 4 ‘A’s1
– Analgesia – Activity – Adverse effects – Aberrant drug behaviours
1. Gourlay & Heit, 2005.
Federal requirements
PBS prescription Restricted benefit • Chronic severe disabling pain not responding to non-
narcotic analgesics (treatment <12 months) • If treatment required beyond 12 months, patient must be
reviewed by a second medical practitioner
• Authority required when prescribing increased quantities of opioid and/or repeats – By phone – 1 month’s supply with no repeats – In writing – 1 month’s supply with 2 repeats
• Short term supply can be prescribed without an authority
Department of Health and Ageing, 2008.
State requirements - QLD
• If intend to prescribe S8 drugs for longer than 8 weeks, forward a “Report to the Chief Executive” through the Drugs of Dependence Unit (DDU)
• A treatment approval from the Chief Executive is required prior to treating, for any controlled drug for a patient considered to be drug dependent
• For approvals and “Reports to the Chief Executive” contact the Drugs of Dependence Unit – Phone 3328 9890 – Fax 3328 9821
Preventing doctor-shopping
Medicare Australia Prescription Shopping Information Service
• If patient suspected of getting medicine in excess of medical need, contact the Prescription Shopping Information Service: – Complete and sign the registration form available at
www.medicareaustralia.gov.au • Registration confirmed within 2 business days (fax) or by
mail – Information Service available 24/7 for registered GPs to:
• Find out if patient has been identified under the Prescription Shopping Program
• Receive information on the amount and type of PBS medicine recently supplied to that patient
( 1800 631 181
Summary – opioid pathway
Multidimensional assessment GP +/– practice nurse +/– others
Opioid trial
Maintenance therapy
Authority to Prescribe
Review
Exit from pathway: i. Goals of therapy not
achieved in trial or maintenance phase
ii. Predominance of psychosocial issues
iii. Evidence of aberrant drug related behaviour
Integrated Pain Service, 2008.
Is the patient suitable for opioid therapy?
State / territory health departments
State / territory
Department Contact
ACT Pharmaceutical Services Section, ACT Health ( 02 6207 3974
NSW Pharmaceutical Services Branch, NSW Health ( 02 9879 3214
8 www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/ pharmaceutical
NT Poisons Control Unit, Department of Health & Community Services
( 08 8922 7341 8 www.health.nt.gov.au
QLD Drugs of Dependency Unit, Queensland Health ( 07 3896 3900
SA Drugs of Dependence Unit, Drug & Alcohol Services, Department of Health
( 1300 652 584 8 www.health.sa.gov.au
TAS Pharmaceutical Services Branch, Department of Health & Human Services
( 03 6233 2064
VIC Drugs & Poisons Unit, Department of Human Services
( 1300 364 545 8 www.health.vic.gov.au/dpu
WA Drugs of Dependency Unit, Department of Health ( 08 9388 4985