Clinical Guidelines
The American Academy of Pain Medicine develops clinical practice guidelines for use in the treatment of pain.
AAPM guidelines are intended as educational tools for healthcare providers and are based on clinical expertise and a review of the relevant literature by diverse groups of highly trained clinicians.
Consensus Guidelines Under Development
The following consensus guidelines continue under development. Follow AAPM on Facebook or Twitter and stay tuned to our newsfeed for the latest updates in Pain Medicine news.
Enhanced Recovery After Spine Surgery
Evidence for Pathway Care in Lumbar Laminectomy, Discectomy, and Fusion
Migraine Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment
A Consensus Guideline
Opioid Discontinuation
A Consensus Guideline
Clinical Guidelines: Consensus on the Best Practices in Pain Medicine
During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Public Health Crisis
Updated April 2020
Practice guidelines published in Pain Medicine to assist pain medicine providers, health care leaders, and regulatory bodies as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
Live-Recorded Panel Discussion of These Guidelines By the Authors
Interventions for Lumbar Facet Joint Pain
Updated February 2020
Live-Recorded Panel Discussion of These Guidelines By the Authors
Multidisciplinary Spine Care | The Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain
Updated March 2020
Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines For Multidisciplinary Spine Care
Challenges with Implementing Opioid Guidelines
Updated January 2019
Consensus recommendations from a multidisciplinary panel of physician experts convened by the AAPM Foundation.
Using Clinical Laboratory Tests to Monitor Drug Therapy
Updated July 2018
Laboratory Medicine Practice Guidelines from AAPM and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.
Using Clinical Laboratory Tests To Monitor Drug Therapy In Pain Management Patients
Using Intravenous Ketamine Infusions for Acute Pain Management
Updated June 2018
Recommended prescriber practices developed by AAPM, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Consensus Guidelines on the Use of Intravenous Ketamine Infusions for Acute Pain Management
Interventional Spine and Pain Procedures in Patients on Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Medications
Updated April 2018
Guidelines from AAPM, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy, the International Neuromodulation Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society, and the World Institute of Pain.
Rational Urine Drug Monitoring in Patients Receiving Opioids for Chronic Pain
Updated January 2018
Consensus recommendations from AAPM on urine drug monitoring in patients with chronic pain who are prescribed opioids.
The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force
The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force was established to propose updates to best practices and issue recommendations that address gaps or inconsistencies for managing chronic and acute pain.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services oversaw this effort with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense.
The Final Report on Best Practices: Updates, Gaps, Inconsistencies and Recommendations