[The Prevention and Management of Complications and Side Effects of Pain Treatment: Preface and Comments].

Methods of pain treatment are various because of different mechanisms and causes of pain. However, we should recognize complications and side effects of these methods of pain treatment. In addition, we should understand the prevention and management of these complications and side effects. If patients develop side effects during pain treatment they may hesitate to continue to receive pain treatment. We must avoid these situations. In this special issue, the prevention and management of complications and side effects of pain treatment are described including nerve block such as stellate ganglion block, epidural block and nerve root block, and interventional methods such as spinal cord stimulation, thermocoagulation and pulse radiofrequency. Concerning drugs, opioid, non-opioid analgesics, antidepressants and anticoagulant are also discussed.