Common Neuro-Musculoskeletal Painful Conditions

Musculoskeletal pain complaints are among the most common problems encountered by any clinician in an ambulatory care practice, yet many clinicians lack basic training and knowledge about the proper evaluation of these conditions. This course will discuss concepts of the evaluation, including the appropriate and directed history and exam findings that should be evaluated. A great deal of emphasis will be placed on the importance of the clinical evaluation as opposed to ancillary testing such as imaging tests. There will be special attention paid to the importance of knowing the limitations and pitfalls of imaging tests in the evaluation of spinal pain conditions, particularly in the setting of chronic spinal pain, and potential secondary gains/disability. The existing relevant literature regarding this correlation between spinal imaging and pain will be discussed in detail, using clinical scenarios and illustrative cases. Initial general primary management principles—illustrated through common injuries/complaints such as neck pain, low back pain, joint pain (shoulder, hip, knee), and common focal and generalized neuropathies—will be presented, along with clear indications and clinical pearls for specialist referral. (Recorded at PAINWeek 2018)