Browse the Evidence
Welcome to the CADTH Evidence Bundle for pain.
Here you will find our best evidence on the management of pain – both acute and chronic – arranged under the following categories: pharmacological treatments, physical therapies, and psychological therapies, and multidisciplinary treatments.
Acute Pain
Pharmacological Treatments
- Acute Pain Management: Non-Opioid Treatments (Pharmacologic and Non-Pharmacologic) (Mind the Research Gaps Tool, October 2018)
- Opioids for the Treatment of Pain (Mind the Research Gaps Tool, September 2018)
- Methoxyflurane for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, August 2018)
- Timing of Fentanyl Patch Re-Application: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, May 2018)
- Analgesics for Surgical Third Molar Extraction: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, April 2018)
- Perioperative Use of NSAIDs: Safety and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, April 2018)
- Intranasal Sufentanil for Acute Pain: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, December 2017)
- Gabapentin, Celecoxib, and Acetaminophen for the Prevention of Post-Operative Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, July 2017)
- Pre-Operative Naproxen for Gynecological Surgery: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, July 2017)
- Pregabalin for Acute Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary with Critical Appraisal, January 2017)
- Ketorolac versus Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for the Management of Acute Pain: Comparative Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, January 2017)
- Topical NSAIDs versus Opioids for Acute Musculoskeletal Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary with Critical Appraisal, January 2017)
- Ibuprofen 600 mg or 800 mg for Acute Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Reference List, December 2016)
- Pharmacological Interventions for Back Pain: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Reference List, November 2016)
- Medications for the Management of Post-Surgical Pain in Pediatrics: Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, July 2016)
- Tramadol Plus Acetaminophen for the Management of Pain in Adult Patients: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, November 2015)
- Tramadol for the Management of Pain in Adult Patients: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, February 2015)
- Slow-Release Opioids for Postoperative Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, November 2014)
- Ketamine for Adult Patients who Have Suffered Painful and Traumatic Injuries: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, Safety and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, March 2014)
- Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs for Pain: A Review of Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, August 2013)
- Codeine Compared with Other Opioids for Pain Relief in Pediatric Patients: Comparative Clinical Effectiveness, Safety, and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, February 2013)
- Optimal Pain Management Following Tonsillectomy or Adenoidectomy for Pediatric Patients: Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, December 2012)
- Intrathecal Bupivacaine via Infusion Pump for the Management of Pain: Clinical Evidence, Safety, and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, November 2012)
- Optimal Post-Tonsillectomy Pain Management for Pediatric Patients: Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, October 2012)
- Codeine and Acetaminophen for Pain Relief: A Review of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, April 2012)
- Topical Skin Refrigerant Sprays to Support Pain Management during Minor Procedures: Clinical Effectiveness, Safety, and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, August 2011)
Physical Treatments
- Exercise for the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness (Summary with Critical Appraisal, August 2017)
- Manual Therapy for the Recent-Onset or Persistent Neck Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, August 2017)
- Physiotherapy Interventions for the Management of Neck or Back Pain: Cost-Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, August 2017)
- Virtual Reality or Gaming Applications for Pain Management or Distraction: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Reference List, August 2017)
- Exercise for the Management of Back Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, August 2017)
- Manual Therapy for Recent-Onset or Persistent Non-Specific Lower Back Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, August 2017)
- Exercise for the Management of Neck Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, July 2017)
- Physiotherapy Interventions for the Management of Neck and/or Back Pain: A Review of Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness (Summary with Critical Appraisal, June 2017)
Chronic Pain
Pharmacological Treatments
- Chronic Pain Management : Pharmacologic Treatments (Non-Opioids) (Mind the Research Gaps Tool, September 2018)
- Opioids for the Treatment of Pain (Mind the Research Gaps Tool, September 2018)
- Gabapentin for Adults with Neuropathic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary with Critical Appraisal, March 2018)
- Emerging Non-Opioid Drugs for the Treatment of Pain (Environmental Scan, February 2018)
- Monoclonal antibodies to prevent migraine headaches (Issues in Emerging Health Technologies, February 2018)
- Botulinum Toxin A for Chronic Migraines: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, January 2018)
- Nabilone for Chronic Pain Management: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, August 2017)
- Low-Dose Naltrexone for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, June 2017)
- 2017 Canadian Guideline for Opioids for Chronic Pain (Guidelines from the Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre at McMaster University and funded by Health Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, May 2017)
- Magnesium as an Alternative or Adjunct to Opioids for Chronic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, April 2017)
- Strategies for the Reduction or Discontinuation of Opioids: Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, April 2017)
- Navigating Opioids for Chronic Pain (Infographic, 2017)
- Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary with Critical Appraisal, January 2017)
- Gabapentin for HIV-associated Neuropathic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, January 2016)
- Cannabinoid Buccal Spray for Chronic Non-Cancer or Neuropathic Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Safety, and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, September 2016)
- Long-acting Opioids for Chronic Non-cancer Pain: A Review of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, August 2015)
- Gabapentin for Adults With Neuropathic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, April 2015)
- Tramadol for the Management of Pain in Adult Patients: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, February 2015)
- Long-term Use of Cyclobenzaprine for Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, February 2015)
- Gabapentin for Adults With Neuropathic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, September 2014)
- Intravenous Ketamine for the Treatment of Pain Syndromes: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, June 2013)
- Suboxone for the Treatment of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, January 2013)
- Combination Benzodiazepine-Opioid Use: Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Reference List, March 2015)
- Stepwise Approach for the Prescription of Opiates for Non-Cancer Pain: A Review of Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, May 2014)
- Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs for Pain: A Review of Safety (Summary With Critical Appraisal, August 2013)
- Opioid Trial Periods in the Treatment of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Review of the Clinical Evidence (Summary With Critical Appraisal, June 2012)
- Watchful Dosing of Morphine or Morphine Equivalent Dosing in the Treatment of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Review of the Clinical Evidence (Summary with Critical Appraisal, June 2012)
- Evaluation of Opioid Use for Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Clinical Evidence (Reference List, June 2012)
- Drug Interventions for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (Reference List, February 2014)
- Chronic Pain Treatment in the Prison Setting: Clinical Effectiveness, Safety, Cost-Effectiveness, and Guidelines (Reference List, July 2010)
Physical Treatments
- Chronic Pain Management: Non-Pharmacologic Treatments (Tools, September 2018)
- Wet Needling Techniques in Patient Care: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, August 2018)
- Treating and Assessing Chronic Pain Patients who have Suffered Physical Trauma: Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, August 2018)
- Percutaneous Rhizotomy for Chronic Back or Neck Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, March 2018)
- Exercise for the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness (Summary with Critical Appraisal, August 2017)
- Manual Therapy for the Recent-Onset or Persistent Neck Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, August 2017)
- Physiotherapy Interventions for the Management of Neck or Back Pain: Cost-Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, August 2017)
- Exercise for the Management of Back Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, August 2017)
- Manual Therapy for Recent-Onset or Persistent Non-Specific Lower Back Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, August 2017)
- Exercise for the Management of Neck Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, July 2017)
- Exercise for the Management of Fibromyalgia: Clinical Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, July 2017)
- Manual Therapy for the Treatment of Shoulder Pain: Clinical Effectiveness (Reference List, July 2017)
- Manual Therapy for the Treatment of Cervicogenic Headaches: Clinical Effectiveness (Reference List, July 2017)
- Occupational Therapy Interventions to Prevent Opioid Relapse: Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, July 2017)
- Physiotherapy Interventions for the Management of Neck and/or Back Pain: A Review of Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness (Summary with Critical Appraisal, June 2017)
- Splinting to Reduce Upper Extremity Pain: Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, June 2017)
- Viscosupplementation for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Review of Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, June 2017)
- Physiotherapy Interventions for the Management of Fibromyalgia: Clinical and Cost Effectiveness (Summary of Abstracts, June 2017)
- Orthodontic Treatment for the Management of Pain or Impacted Teeth in Patients with Malocclusion: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, June 2017)
- Orthodontic Treatment for the Management of Pain or Impacted Teeth in Patients with Malocclusion: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Reference List, May 2017)
- Laser Spine Surgery for Herniated Discs and/or Nerve Root Entrapment: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, April 2017)
- If not opioids, then what? (Hospital News Article, March 2017)
- Self-Management Interventions for Back Pain: Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Reference List, December 2016)
- Physical Therapy Treatments for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Review of Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, November 2016)
- Shockwave Therapy for Pain Associated with Upper Extremity Orthopedic Disorders: A Review of the Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, September 2016)
- Shockwave Therapy for Pain Associated with Lower Extremity Orthopedic Disorders: A Review of the Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, September 2016)
- Home Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, December 2016)
- Prolotherapy for the Management of Musculoskeletal Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness (Summary With Critical Appraisal, November 2014)
- Mattresses for Chronic Back or Neck Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, May 2014)
Psychological Therapies
- Behavioural and Psychological Interventions for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Review of Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, November 2016)
- Mindfulness Training for Chronic Pain Management: A Review of the Clinical Evidence and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, January 2012)
Multidisciplinary Treatments
- Occupational Therapy for Chronic Pain Management Using the Biopsychosocial Approach: A Review of the Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, August 2017)
- Multidisciplinary Treatment Programs for Patients with Chronic Non-Malignant Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Guidelines (Summary with Critical Appraisal, June 2017)
- Pain Management in Prison Populations: Guidelines (Reference List, March 2016)
- Pain Management for Women, Aboriginal Peoples, or the Elderly: Guidelines (Summary of Abstracts, March 2016)
- Interventions for Atypical Facial Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, April 2016)
- Non-Drug Interventions for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Guidelines and Recommendations (Reference List, February 2014)
- Multidisciplinary Treatment Programs for Patients with Non-Malignant Pain: A Review of the Clinical Evidence, Cost-Effectiveness, and Guidelines (Summary With Critical Appraisal, November 2011)