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Review
. 2025 Jan 27;29(1):36.
doi: 10.1007/s11916-024-01343-2.

An Algorithmic Overview of Advanced Pain Therapies: A Narrative Review

Peter D Vu  1 , Ryan S D'Souza  2 , Saba Javed  3
Affiliations
Review

An Algorithmic Overview of Advanced Pain Therapies: A Narrative Review

Peter D Vu et al. Curr Pain Headache Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: Quickly referenceable, streamlined, algorithmic approaches for advanced pain management are lacking for patients, trainees, non-pain specialists, and interventional specialists. This manuscript aims to address this gap by proposing a comprehensive, evidence-based algorithm for managing neuropathic, nociceptive, and cancer-associated pain. Such an algorithm is crucial for pain medicine education, offering a structured approach for patient care refractory to conservative management.

Recent findings: A comprehensive literary review with PubMed and regulatory documents from the United States Food and Drug Administration were searched for a variety of interventions. Pain syndromes were categorized into nociceptive and neuropathic pain, and an algorithm was constructed. Serving as an educational tool for patients, trainees, and non-pain specialists, and as an accessible reference for pain specialists, this algorithm bridges knowledge gaps, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and streamlines the learning curve for new practitioners. The strength of this algorithm lies in integrating extensive clinical data, emphasizing the latest clinical evidence, and providing a structured decision-making pathway.

Keywords: Advanced pain procedures; Advanced pain therapies; Algorithm; Narrative review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical Approval: All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines). Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

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