Strategies for Managing Chronic Pain: Case of a Skilled Orthopaedic Physician and Mini-Review

Tatsunori Ikemoto^1,2, Young-Chang P. Arai^1,2, Makoto Nishihara¹, Takahiro Ushida^1,2

¹Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
²Institute of Physical Fitness, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/ojo.2015.55014                

Abstract

Epidemiological surveys have recently revealed a high prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain in Japan; however, 30% of the patients in the survey were not satisfied with their pain treatment. This indicates that standard strategies in the management of chronic pain are poorly shared among physicians in Japan. Herein we report a case of a patient with intractable chronic pain who is a skilled orthopaedic physician. A 43-year-old man who was a skilled orthopaedic surgeon presented at our center complaining of severe buttock pain especially around the right hip region for more than three years. At begging of pain onset, he was diagnosed with femoacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI) with labral tear. Despite biophysical interventions including twice surgeries and alternative conservative treatment, his pain persisted, and he occasionally had to take a day off work due to the severe pain. Therefore we had to evaluate his pathological condition using a multidimensional approach based on a biopsychosocial model. We had provided him with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach, and simultaneously suggestion for short leaving from work. Three months after the start of CBT training, his disabilities had begun to improve. About six months later, he could continue to do his work. Finally, 19 months have passed since we started implementing the CBT approach; he has regained both his previous work-life balance and his health, although the pain has not completely subsided. In conclusion, we think it is important for physicians treating chronic pain to learn the management strategies for chronic pain and to re-consider their management policy when conventional biomedical interventions were not succeeded, even in cases where medication and surgical intervention are warranted.

Keywords

Chronic Pain, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Biomedical, Biopsychosocial

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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