Ukrainian-Austrian School of Pain Management

The school brought together physicians specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, anesthesiology, neurology, and psychotherapy who treat patients with acute and chronic pain, including pain following injuries, amputations, and combat wounds. The program placed particular emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach to pain management and the integration of medical, rehabilitative, and psychosocial aspects of treatment.

The first day of the school took place at Danylo Halytsky Medical University in Lviv and was dedicated to the theoretical foundations of pain therapy. After registration and welcoming remarks from the organizers, the program began with an overview of the physiology of the nociceptive system and the mechanisms of pain inhibition. This formed the common scientific basis for subsequent discussions.

Throughout the day, participants explored in detail the mechanisms of acute, nociceptive, and neuropathic pain, as well as the phenomenon of phantom pain. Particular attention was paid to the treatment of neuropathic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and the connection between psychoemotional disorders and pain syndromes. In the afternoon, current treatment approaches for phantom pain were presented, ranging from transcranial magnetic stimulation to surgical and therapeutic procedures, including the role of physiotherapy. The day concluded with a Q&A session, during which participants discussed clinical cases and clarified practical aspects of applying their newly acquired knowledge.

The second day focused on an in-depth analysis of individual pain syndromes and practical tools for working with patients. In the morning, lectures were given on post-traumatic headaches, whiplash, and complex regional pain syndrome. Participants reviewed approaches to the diagnosis, stratification, and treatment of these conditions according to international clinical guidelines.

Following the theoretical sessions, the program transitioned into practical seminars in small groups. Participants worked on clinical cases, discussed strategies for treating headaches and neuropathic pain, and explored the specific aspects of caring for patients with complex pain syndromes. This format fostered active professional exchange between Ukrainian and Austrian specialists and facilitated the adaptation of international experience to the Ukrainian clinical context. The day concluded with an informal joint event, which became an important element of networking and international collaboration.

The third day of the training took place at the All-Ukrainian Center for War Trauma Superhumans and focused on practical experience in organizing a pain management service in the context of working with patients following severe injuries and amputations. Participants were introduced to the center’s pain management organizational model, the patients’ postoperative pain trajectories, and the principles of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Lectures and discussions explored various approaches to assessing different types of pain within the context of rehabilitation, as well as the role of anxiety and depression in shaping patients’ pain experiences. A highlight of the program was a tour of the center, where participants were able to observe the practical implementation of a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation approach. The training concluded with a feedback session in which participants summarized their insights and discussed potential applications in clinical practice.

The Ukrainian-Austrian School of Pain Management continues to serve as a platform for in-depth professional development, practical exchange, and international collaboration. The combination of theoretical lectures, practical seminars, and the clinical expertise of the Superhumans Center enabled participants to gain a holistic understanding of modern pain management and to strengthen interdisciplinary approaches to the treatment of patients in post-traumatic and post-war medical care in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian-Austrian School of Pain Management remains a platform for in-depth professional development, practical exchange, and international cooperation. The event is organized by the Danylo Halytsky Medical University of Lviv and the All-Ukrainian Center for War Trauma Superhumans with the support of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, the Office of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection at the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Kyiv, the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research, the Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna, the Ottakring Clinic in Vienna, the Erste Foundation, the Rotary Club Vienna-Schönbrunn, the Austrian Cooperation Office Lviv and other partners.