Recognising, Diagnosing and Treating Pain Months to Years after Injury

Wayne returns months and then years after surgery with persistent lameness and discomfort. This final lecture shifts the focus to chronic pain – how to recognise it, diagnose its underlying contributors and manage it long-term.

Participants will explore the progression of post-traumatic and post-surgical pain, learn to differentiate mechanical, inflammatory and neuropathic components, and apply objective assessment tools to monitor treatment response. The session concludes with practical, multimodal long-term management strategies, including updates on monoclonal antibody therapies and other emerging options.

Wildlife extension – Managing Chronic Pain in Rescued Bears This lecture concludes by translating the principles learned from Wayne’s case to bears, demonstrating how these pain management strategies can be adapted to large wildlife species to improve welfare outcomes under human care.