The Oregon Pain Management Commission is trying to change the way doctors treat patients who suffer from pain.
It used to be a doctor might prescribe a course of opioids, then tell a patient to go home and get plenty of rest.
But now experts are taking a new approach by instead stressing that patients focus on their nutrition, exercise, mood and sleep.
The chair of the Oregon Pain Management Commission, Catriona Buist, said that new approach is being emphasized in the new Oregon pain module, where practitioners go for continuing education.
“We’re trying to help people learn how to have healthy behaviors, so they can manage their pain, have a good quality of life and improve their function, so they can do the things that they want to do with their life,” said Buist.
The new pain module is called "Changing the Conversation about Pain: Pain Care is Everyone’s Job."
Copyright 2018 Oregon Public Broadcasting
