Dr. Yashwant Nankar, is an anesthesiologist who specializes in the sphere of pain management and has devoted his professional life to alleviating pain. He received training in cancer pain, palliative care and oncology care at the Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, Ahmedabad under the auspices of The Indian Association of Palliative Care in 1994.
He is an active member of many medical societies, including:

• International Association for Study of Pain (IASP).
• Indian Society for Study of Pain (ISSP).
• International Association of Palliative Care (IAPC).
• Indian Society of Anesthesiologists (ISA).
• Research Society of Anesthesiology and Clinical Pharmacology (RSACP).
• Indian Medical Association (IMA).
• Dr. Nankar has been a pain management expert in the private sector for the last 12 years.
• Dr. Nankar has participated and presented papers at different national and international conferences.
• Recently, he participated in the 9th World Congress on Pain, held at Vienna, Austria.
• He had the honor of chairing the Scientific Session at Global Update on Pain and XVth National Conference of Indian Society for Study of Pain (ISSP), held in Mumbai in February, 2000.
• At present, Dr. Nankar is a managing committee member of ISSP.
• Dr. Nankar actively provides education on pain management to both the general public as well as the medical community.
• Dr. Nankar has participated as guest speaker, for different topics on pain management in different CMEs organized by medical colleges at Pune, Aurangabad, Sholapur, Nagar, Nashik, Goa etc. Dr. Nankar’s interview on pain management was telecast by DD as part of a UGC–based program in 1997 and 1998.

Functioning of The Pain Management Center
In such centers, patients in pain are examined in detail, their case records are reviewed and efforts are made to find out the exact cause of pain. The effect of previous treatment is assessed and painful areas are mapped on the body map. The intensity is measured with various simple techniques and limitations produced due to pain on daily life are noted and a treatment plan is specifically designed for each individual.

The Goals of Pain Management
We have to keep definite goals in our mind while managing these patients. Obviously, the goal will differ according to the disease and its stage and it will range from elimination or reduction of pain to a tolerable level, restoration of physical activity, elimination of drug dependency and a return to gainful employment.

The benefits of appropriate pain management are:

• Decreases negative effects on various physiological systems, including the immune system.
• Reduces suffering for both the patient and family.
• Shortens the patient’s hospital stay and recovery time.
• Allows the patient to become more productive.

Pain problems treated at the pain management center
A wide variety of pain–related problems are treated at pain center, such as:

• Chronic back pain.
• Chronic neck pain.
• Myofascial pain.
• Neurogenic pain e.g. trigeminal neuralgia.
• Ischemia related pain e.g. TAO.
• Sciatica.
• Herpes zoster.
• Post herpetic neuralgia.
• Diabetes–related pain.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Cancer–related pain.
• Chronic post–operative pain.
• Post–thoracotomy pain.
• Post–mastectomy pain.
• Post–laminectomy pain.
• Intercostal neuralgia.
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
• HIV–related pain.
• Chronic pancreatities pain.
• Phantom pain (pain following amputation ).
• Coccygodynia.
• Sports injuries.

Any pain which is present for more than three months and not relieved by conventional treatment.
Additionally, acute pain relief services are provided for conditions like:

• Child birth.
• Pre and post–operative pain of major surgeries and for trauma patients.
• Transport of patients in severe pain – from home to the hospital or interdepartmental transport in the hospital.