Pain management (also called
pain medicine or
algiatry) is a branch of medicine employing an interdisciplinary approach for easing the suffering and improving the
quality of life of those living with
pain. The typical pain management team includes
medical practitioners,
pharmacists,
clinical psychologists,
physiotherapists,
occupational therapists,
physician assistants,
nurse practitioners, and
clinical nurse specialists. The team may also include other mental-health specialists and massage therapists. Pain sometimes resolves promptly once the underlying
trauma or
pathology has healed, and is treated by one practitioner, with drugs such as
analgesics and (occasionally)
anxiolytics. Effective management of
chronic (long-term) pain, however, frequently requires the coordinated efforts of the management team.