FIRE AND ICE: Acupuncture For the Treatment of Women Veterans With Co-Morbid Pain and Menopause
Put the “me” back in "me"nopause for Women Veterans! Learn about a novel VA acupuncture clinic delivering an evidence-based, non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment of co-morbid pain and menopause in a gender-specific environment. Menopause symptom burden adds complexity to pain management for this population at-risk for greater odds of increased chronic pain, multiple pain diagnoses, and dangerous polypharmacy. This clinic is the subject of a recently awarded VA Pain/Opioid CORE quality improvement grant and aims to uphold the patient-centered “me” for women as they navigate the menopause transition. Come for the evidence, leave with actionable solutions and a brief pain psychology-based exercise for symptom self-management.
Learning Objectives
- Identify a patient population at higher risk for multiple pain diagnoses and risky opioid prescribing due to menopause symptom burden.
- Describe the proposed influence of menopause on chronic pain.
- Utilize the evidence base to support the use of acupuncture, a complementary and integrative health modality indicated for the treatment of pain and other conditions.
- Explain acupuncture as an evidence based CIH intervention for the treatment of pain and menopausal symptoms.
- Describe a novel clinic model currently in use at a VA location, a women's health acupuncture pain clinic in a gender specific environment.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AANP
- 1.00 ACCME (All Other)
- 1.00 MATE ACT credit
- 1.00 ACCME (MD/DO Only)
- 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
- 1.00 ANCC
- 1.00 APA