08/21/2025
It's critical that clinicians stay informed about the burden that patients carry when it comes to pain management -- and the latest evidence-informed approaches they can take to help patients find relief.
The National Institutes of Health found that adults in the U.S. are developing chronic pain at higher rates than new diagnoses of other conditions like diabetes, depression and high blood pressure. The rate of chronic pain among adults is a staggering 21%. And over 61% of those who have it say they are still suffering a year later.
Just 10% of people are recovering from chronic pain.
Conventional treatments clearly aren’t cutting it. Non-pharmacologic methods of pain management are more important than ever before. Our Integrative & Functional Medicine Fellowship is filling this educational gap.
Robert Bonakdar, MD, is the course director for Integrative Approaches to Pain Management, which helps clinicians understand how to find the root cause of pain and utilize integrative therapies to help patients find relief, cope with persistent pain that is not relieved with treatment and improve their overall quality of life. Our fellows learn to explore a a range of potential contributing factors, such as dietary triggers, gut health, autoimmune-related issues, stressors on mental or physical wellbeing, occupation, posture, lifestyle, structural issues and trauma history related to the somatic system or body framework.
This approach results in a complete picture for determining the most effective, scientifically supported treatment to address pain and help patients achieve their personal health goals. Our fellows go further and learn to partner in a multi-disciplinary care team and ensure that patients receive the most in-depth, comprehensive care.
