Backtable Brief: Pain Management Strategies in Spine Oncology with Dr. Ran Lador and Dr. Mark Amsbaugh

Living in the best of both worlds: balancing pain management and quality of life. In this BackTable MSK Brief, Dr. Mark Amsbaugh and Dr. Ran Lador discuss multidisciplinary approaches to treating spinal tumors with a particular focus on pain management. They explore the complexities of defining and treating pain related to spinal tumors, differentiating between mechanical instability, tumor burden, and neuropathic pain.  The conversation delves into the roles of various treatments including opioids, radiation, nerve blocks, cryoablation, and surgical interventions. They highlight the evolving landscape of spine oncology, emphasizing the need for holistic approaches and the promising future of integrating advanced technologies for better patient outcomes. Episode Outline 00:00 - Introduction  00:53 - Approach to Pain Management in Spine Oncology 02:54 - Multimodal Analgesia 04:25 - What is a Safe Radiation Dose that Spares Spinal Nerves? 07:59 - The Balance Between Quality of Life and Pain Management  09:58 - Final Remarks Resources Dr. Mark Amsbaugh, MD https://med.uth.edu/neurosciences/dr-mark-j-amsbaugh-md/  Dr. Ran Lador, MD https://med.uth.edu/ortho/2022/11/02/ran-lador-md/  Dr. Alexa Levey, MD https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/alexa-levey/