Waitemata Pain Services are always please to discuss management with primary or secondary care health professionals and can be contacted via the Waitemata Pain Services Clinic Office.
Opioid guidelines - opioid-prescribing.pdf
GP opioid prescribing guidelines- 2016 article outlining process to prescribe opioids in primary care.
Opioid Risk Tool.(ORT) This is a validated tool that helps identify high risk patients for potential dependence issues with opioids. An app is available for download on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/opioid-risk-tool/id1033006495?mt=
The 5A's are a reminder about the key issues relating to ongoing opioid prescribing and how to monitor them at each consultation - activity, analgesia, adverse effects, aberrant behaviour and analgesia.
Opioid prescribing guidelines. There are many guidelines - this one is based on the experience from John Hunter Hospital in Australia. The principles are valuable, although the legislation and specifics vary with NZ practice.
Faculty of Pain Medicine (Australian and NZ College of Anaesthetists) -statement on opioid prescribing. This is the local specialty college position statement on opioid prescribing.
Addiction and opioid prescribing- a 2016 NZ BPAC publication which outlines recent local and international data relating to risks and potential issues with opioid prescribing.
Pain Management in the prison population. An overview from the the British Pain Society outlining issues for patients in secure institutions.
Spinal Cord Stimulation. Guidelines from various National bodies in NZ (ACC), UK (NICE, British Pain Society) , Irelandand US have produced evidence based guidelines on indications, processes along with available evidence. Other reviews are included from the Korean Pain Society as well as a historical case report from the first human application in 1967.
Neuropathic pain guidelines - Neuropathic-pain-2015.pdf
Role of cannabinoids in pain management - FPM-cannabis.pdf Faculty Pain Medicine Statement 2016
Guidelines for management of pain related issues
Neuropathic pain. The IASP (International Association for the Study of Pain) has produced brief overview of interventions.
Opioid prescribing. This is a difficult area and one that sometimes puts pressure on GPs and Specialty Clinics. The medical staff at WPS are always pleased to discuss opioid prescribing. It is rare that we prescribe opioids in the clinic. We are aware that these medications are more widely prescribed in the community. The following articles may be useful for those practitioners wanting some additional information or guidance.
Opioid prescribing for cancer pain. This IASP publication outlines the role, prescribing and medication options for patients with cancer pain.
Headaches- Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias. This is a practical update in how to classify headaches related to the Vth nerve.