There is ample evidence that nonpharmacologic therapies including education, exercises such as yoga, tai chi, and cognitive behavioral therapies can be very effective tools in the management of chronic pain in patients with rheumatic diseases.
However, rheumatologists do not often reach for these tools, at least in part because third party payers do not often reimburse for them, according to Dr. Daniel J. Clauw, Director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Dr. Clauw discusses how to choose the best nonpharmacologic therapies for each patient. Hint: Let the patient guide the choice. Dr. Clauw spoke at the annual Perspectives on Rheumatic Diseases, held by Global Academy for Medical Education. GAME and this news organization are owned by Frontline Medical Communications.