ABSTRACT
The clinical discipline which might have laid an early claim to the problem of pain was anesthesiology, but this field was still in the process of professionalization and maturation in the first half of the twentieth century. Alcohol blocks were used to relieve trigeminal neuralgia in the early 1900s and chronic chest pain in the 1920s. The tragic suffering of many wounded men in World War II played a pivotal role in the development of pain management by giving physicians the unique opportunity to treat multiple complex pain syndrome cases in organized teams. For both William Livingston and John Bonica, the war was a turning point in their careers. Complementary therapists, such as acupuncturists or biofeedback trainers, might also be available at the clinic or through referrals. Fewer plans paid for the psychological and behavioral therapy essential to the multidisciplinary pain-treatment programs. The multidisciplinary pain clinic has proven to be beneficial for many who suffer from chronic pain.
