Chronic Pain and HIV: A Practical Approach

Chronic pain ? pain that lasts for more than 3 months, beyond the period of normal tissue injury ? is common in individuals with HIV. Chronic pain significantly impacts physical function, quality of life, and HIV health behaviors such as adherence to antiretroviral therapy and retention in HIV primary care, and is associated with significant psychological/social distress and substance use disorders.

Chronic Pain and HIV: A Practical Approach is a guide to diagnosis, evaluation, and management of the individual with HIV and chronic pain. Key topics include:

- Pathophysiology of chronic pain in individuals with HIV
- Musculoskeletal pain in individuals with HIV
- Psychiatric and substance use comorbidities among individuals with HIV and chronic pain
- Treatment of chronic pain syndromes in the HIV-infected person
- Potential benefit and harm of prescription opioids in HIV, including safer opioid prescribing practices
- Communicating about chronic pain assessment, diagnostic testing, and management in individuals with HIV
- The ?difficult patient? with HIV and chronic pain
- Pain at the end of life in individuals with AIDS

Edited by an outstanding team with extensive experience with HIV, chronic pain, and palliative care, every chapter is written by an expert in their chosen topic who provides a thorough review of the relevant literature, and practical strategies relevant to the front-line clinician.

Keywords: chronic pain, HIV, AIDS, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, immune system, pain relief, chronic pain, HIV, AIDS, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, immune system, pain relief, Infectious Disease