A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has gone through additional training to provide more advanced medical and diagnostic care to patients with all different kinds of illnesses. These medical professionals generally hold at least a master’s degree, so they have a comprehensive basis of medical knowledge to help patients suffering from chronic and acute conditions. They may work in hospitals, intensive care units, hospice centers, and even doctor’s offices, depending on their specialty.

Pain management is a wide branch of medical study, and it can include a complete range of different therapies for those suffering from pain. Since pain can come from many parts of the body for different reasons, the solutions will differ greatly. Some doctors will prescribe pain medication to their patients, but in recent years, there has been a push to explore more medication-free pain management options, such as physical therapy, surgery, and even acupuncture and other alternative therapies.