Back and Neck Pain:
Diagnosis, Treatment, and When to Refer
A one-day continuing education conference designed for Advanced Practice Practitioners and Physicians seeking practical insight into spine-related pain care.
Friday, September 25, 2026
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
The Delray | 817 R St., Lincoln, NE 68508 (map)
Relevant Education for Everyday Practice
Join Innovative Pain & Spine Specialists for a one-day educational conference focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and referral of patients experiencing back and neck pain. Designed primarily for physician assistants and nurse practitioners, this event provides practical, expert-led education that can be applied directly in clinical practice — while offering a convenient opportunity to earn continuing education credit. Whether you regularly manage musculoskeletal concerns or simply want greater confidence navigating spine-related pain cases, this conference is built to deliver actionable insight in a professional, approachable environment.
Practical Insight You Can Apply Immediately
Back and neck pain remains one of the most common — and often complex — concerns providers encounter in practice. This one-day conference is designed to help Advanced Practice Practitioners navigate diagnosis, treatment considerations, and referral pathways with greater clarity and confidence. Through expert-led sessions and practical discussion, attendees will gain real-world insight they can apply directly in patient care while earning valuable continuing education credit.
Attendees will gain:
• Continuing education in a convenient, one-day format
• Greater confidence of treatment pathways and options
• Guidance on when referral may be appropriate
• Insight from experienced pain and spine specialists
• Opportunities to connect with fellow healthcare professionals
Designed for Advanced Practice Practitioners
We know continuing education needs to be valuable, efficient, and worth your time away from practice. That’s why this conference was built as a convenient, one-day experience featuring practical sessions, expert speakers, and opportunities to connect with fellow providers — all in a professional setting close to home.
This conference is intended for:
• Physician Assistants (PAs)
• Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
• Physicians
• Other healthcare providers interested in spine-related pain care
Conference Agenda
Welcome and Registration
Participant registration and breakfast.
Opening Remarks
Conference objectives and schedule.
Session 1: Front-Line Management of Spine-Related Pain
Initial assessment of spine pain, red flag identification, and evidence-based initial treatment strategies for common pain presentations.
Session 2: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Value of Interventional Treatments
Interventional techniques and how they aid in diagnosis and optimization of patient outcomes.
Break
Networking and refreshments.
Session 3: Legal Implications in Back Pain Management
How to navigate requests for time off work and work restrictions. What back pain means for the employer and cost of claims.
Session 4: Economic Impact of Back Pain Management
Why is spine pain management so costly and what can all of us do to impact the current healthcare affordability crisis.
Session 5: Panel Discussion and Q&A
Multidisciplinary panel featuring experts in primary care, pain management, and law. Interactive Q&A session with audience participation.
LUNCH
Lunch break and informal networking.
Session 6: Advanced Interventional Techniques
Basivertebral Nerve Ablation, MILD, Sacroiliac Joint Fusion, and Spinal Cord Stimulation
Session 7: Pharmacology of Modern Pain Management
Review of common adjuvant and opioid medications for pain, patient selection, and common pitfalls.
Session 8: Novel Analgesics: Buprenorphine and Suzetrigine
Introduction to two analgesics and the role they play in pain management.
BREAK
Refreshments and Networking Opportunity
Session 9: Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Overview of physical therapy’s role. When, why, and how PT is important.
Session 10: When to Recommend Spine Surgery
Indications for surgery, patient selection, and multidisciplinary considerations in surgical referrals with an overview of common surgical procedures and expected outcomes.
Session 11: Panel Discussion and Q&A
Multidisciplinary panel featuring experts in surgery, pain management, physical therapy, and nursing. Interactive Q&A session with audience participation.
Closing Remarks
Summary of key takeaways, final questions, and evaluation forms.
Social Hour
Refreshments sponsored by Innovative Pain and Spine Specialists.
This educational activity is pending approval by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for up to 7 contact hours of accredited education.
Hear From Experienced Specialists
The conference will feature presentations from experienced providers and specialists focused on spine-related pain care, diagnosis, treatment pathways, and referral best practices.
CME STATEMENT
The Nebraska Medical Education Trust designates this Live Activity for a maximum of eight (8) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Nebraska Medical Education Trust and Innovative Pain and Spine Specialists. The Nebraska Medical Education Trust is accredited by the Nebraska Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.