Pain is defined as ‘an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with or resembling that associated with actual or potential tissue damage’ according to IASP (International Association for the Study of Pain). Doctors specializing in pain management are skilled healthcare professionals dedicated to alleviating suffering and enhancing the quality of life for individuals grappling with chronic pain conditions. Leveraging a combination of non-pharmacological therapies, medication management, and advanced interventions such as nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablations, they strive to address the root causes of pain while mitigating its impact on daily life.

Due to his passion for medicine, Dr. Manish De attended Medical College, Kolkata, the oldest medical school in Asia, where he earned his MBBS. Dr. Manish enrolled in AIIMS, New Delhi, one of the top medical schools in India, driven by his desire for perfection, to pursue his MD in anesthesiology, pain medicine, and critical care, followed by a two-year senior residency. His thesis on low back pain management ignited his deep interest in pain medicine, which brought him back to Kolkata. There, he completed one year residential Fellowship in Pain Management (FPM) under the aegis of West Bengal University of Health Sciences from ESI Institute of Pain Management, ESI Sealdah. Dr. Manish holds memberships in both international and national registered bodies, including the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and the Indian Society for the Study of Pain (ISSP). In addition to his membership, he serves as an executive committee (EC) member of the West Bengal chapter of ISSP.

Comprehensive Pain Assessment & Management

As a specialist in palliative care and interventional pain management, Dr. Manish’s primary duty is to evaluate and treat a patient’s pain completely. To assess other pertinent characteristics and classify the type of pain, he carefully obtains medical histories and conducts thorough tests. After the initial evaluation, he carries out fundamental and sophisticated inquiries to pinpoint the underlying source of discomfort and applies medical intervention tactics. He adds exercises and physiotherapy to the treatment regimen once the medicine reduces pain effectively. He plans interventions specifically for the site and kind of pain.

Dr. Manish provides consultations to patients with a variety of disorders about chronic pain (lasting more than three months), such as headaches, prolapses of the cervical and

lumbar discs,spondyloarthropathies,different kinds of neuralgia, and musculoskeletal discomfort. Particularly in situations of cancer pain, his holistic approach involves social workers, physiotherapists, psychologists, and other health professionals to treat the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of suffering. To give complete pain relief, Dr. Manish uses both ultrasound and c-arm/x-ray guided interventions in operating rooms. He also administers treatments such as nerve blocks, joint injections, epidural injections, and different radiofrequency ablations.

To reduce the likelihood of pain recurrence, Dr. Manish advises making lifestyle adjustments like balanced diet, exercise, walking & practicing mindfulness meditation

“I think it's important to inform patients and their families about the issue at hand as well as the goals of the treatment strategy. I start with nonpharmacological treatments such as contrast baths, warm or cold compression and wax baths as required. I also start with a trial of drugs, such as anti-neuropathic, NSAIDs, steroids, or opioids, and continue to use them as needed for a duration of two to six weeks. After achieving initial pain relief, I advise patients to participate in suitable physical activities and physiotherapy, such as TENS, IFT, or UST as needed. I plan interventions only after success is minimal after conservative management", adds Dr. Manish.

Educational Endeavors & Community Engagement

Teaching pain management and palliative care regularly, Dr. Manish is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain at Santiniketan Medical College and Hospital in Bolpur, as well as a Pain and Palliative Care Consultant at Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute in Thakurpukur, Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, CK Birla CMRI Hospitals, Kolkata & Narayana Multi & Superspeciality Hospitals, Howrah. Being a faculty member in pain medicine, he actively takes part in many state and national conferences and seminars, which help advance education, training, and research in this specialty area. To inform the public and medical community alike about the significance and need for this field of expertise, he also plans several pain management awareness camps each year.

Holistic Approach to Pain Management

Dr. Manish stresses how critical it is to comprehend the psychological history of patients suffering from chronic pain and the complex relationship that exists between pain, anxiety, and depression. Providing one-on-one counseling, he helps his patients understand the full scope of their problems and recommends that they seek professional psychologists for thorough psychological support. To provide his patients with comprehensive and successful pain management, he works in conjunction with dieticians, physiotherapists, and mindfulness meditation specialists.

The Future of Pain Medicine

Like all medical professions, pain medicine is a field that is always changing. Pain management is being revolutionized by advances including intrathecal medication delivery systems, spinal cord stimulators, neuromodulations, radiofrequency ablations, stem cell therapies, and endoscopic disc operations. New therapeutic approaches based on artificial intelligence hold great promise for improving healthcare delivery quality.

“I routinely read publications from highly indexed journals such as Pain, Pain Practice, Pain Medicine, Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, NEJM, JAMA, Lancet, and the Indian Journal of Pain to stay up to date on the most recent advancements in the field of pain management. These journals assist me to improve my knowledge and abilities while keeping me up to date on the latest developments in the industry. I make it a point to attend conferences and workshops and actively participate in educational events at work. In addition to keeping me abreast of current theories and useful skills, these activities give me the chance to network and share ideas with other professionals", concludes Dr. Manish.