Special Interest Session

SIS-01 - Food as Medicine: Nutrition Informed Pain Management

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

7:30 AM – 8:20 AM PST

Location: Gracia 3 & 4

CE: Contact Hours: 1 | ANCC RX: 0| AANP RX: 0 | Mate: 0

Co-Presenter(s)

JC

Jessica G. Cupido, DO

PEAK Medical Director
James A Haley VA Hospital

Slides
Celeste Nadal, MD

Psychiatrist, Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program (CPRP) and Pain Empowerment Anywhere Program (PEAK)
Tampa VA Healthcare System
Tampa, FL

Slides
Olivia Schmidt, RDN, LDN

Clinical Dietitian for PEAK and CPRP Programs
James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital
Tampa, Florida
Hannah Thorfinnson, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner of Pain Management
James A Haley VA Medical Center
Tampa, Florida

Nutrition is a vital tool that is underutilized in the treatment of chronic pain. Unfortunately, much of the research on nutrition and health is industry-driven and unreliable, leading to conflicting and often confusing recommendations for healthcare professionals and the public. This session leverages the expertise of 4 interdisciplinary clinicians to present the latest evidenced-based literature to improve patient outcomes and provide a more accurate and trustworthy picture of the complex relationship between nutrition and pain. Presenters will highlight specific research demonstrating the effect of nutrition on chronic pain conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell disease and vitamin deficiencies. By shedding light on the truth behind food and inflammation connection, this presentation has the potential to improve health professionals’ ability to emphasize achievable nutrition interventions, guide quality research in this field, and ultimately, provide practical recommendations for individuals suffering from chronic pain.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the inflammatory response and its effect on chronic pain.
Identify industry funded research and the potential for bias and limitations
Discuss foods which may alleviate and/or exacerbate pain based on specific medical conditions
Implement mindfulness coaching into their practice