BIOGRAPHY

Currently Clinical Leader Pain Services CCDHB, Member NZNC FPMANZCA, Previously Consultant in Pain Medicine, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire UK, Visiting Associate Professor University of Wisconsin – Madison, Visiting Narkoslakare Akademiska Sjukhuset Uppsala Sweden. Senior Registrar and Clinical Research Fellow Liverpool UK, Registrar Edinburgh.

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ABSTRACT

Opiates and Chronic Pain

Physiological and psychological changes take place in the development of chronic, or persistent pain conditions. The biology of acute nociception is not directly activated or involved in persistent pain states, consequently treatments for acute pain cannot be transcribed into treatments for persistent pain. Opiates have acquired a defined role in the management of acute pain but there is no good unequivocal evidence for their use in persistent pain although there is definite objective evidence of progressive harm. This talk will attempt to address and hopefully clarify some of these issues.