Prof. Dr. Stefan Wirz

When the practical textbook “Multimodal Pain Therapy” was published in December 2021, it was immediately clear to the medical community that a landmark reference work had entered the field. One of the key reasons was that Professor Dr. Stefan Wirz, one of Germany’s most renowned pain medicine specialists, was among its editors. This highly experienced pain expert serves as Head of Anesthesiology at Cura Hospital Bad Honnef, part of the GFO Clinics, and is widely regarded as a leading authority in modern pain medicine.

Patients benefit from his extensive expertise and versatility, as Prof. Dr. Wirz is not only a board-certified specialist in anesthesiology, intensive care medicine, and pain management, but also holds additional qualifications in palliative medicine, addiction medicine, and acupuncture.

At Cura Hospital Bad Honnef, part of the GFO Clinics, Prof. Dr. Stefan Wirz designed a new, completely modernized pain management unit distinguished by its innovative treatment concepts. The redesigned unit now offers 15 dedicated pain therapy beds for patients suffering from conditions such as chronic back pain, neuropathic pain, or more complex pain disorders including fibromyalgia and cancer-related pain. Through this modernization, GFO Clinics Bonn is addressing the growing demand for pain therapy services in Bonn and throughout the surrounding region.

The new unit complements the existing outpatient pain clinic, which provides expert care for individuals with chronic pain or cancer-related pain. As in the inpatient pain management program, Prof. Dr. Stefan Wirz and his team combine various treatment modalities to create the most effective individualized treatment strategy. These include TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), therapeutic local anesthesia, neural therapy, and minimally invasive interventional techniques, as well as acupuncture in selected cases as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Comprehensive Pain Assessment: Multimodal Pain Therapy

Through multimodal pain therapy, Prof. Dr. Wirz and his highly skilled team offer individualized treatment programs tailored to each patient, helping them break the cycle of pain, withdrawal, hopelessness, and pain amplification. The goal of the multimodal approach is to evaluate the pain condition holistically and develop the most effective treatment plan for each individual patient.

Within the multimodal pain therapy concept, an interdisciplinary team consisting of nurses, physical therapists, psychotherapists, and physicians from various specialties provides comprehensive care for patients seeking treatment at the clinic. The average duration of multimodal pain therapy at the Cura Clinic’s dedicated pain unit is approximately 15 days.

Demand for multimodal pain therapy remains high: “Approximately six million people in Germany experience limitations in their daily functioning due to chronic pain. More than two million individuals suffer from what is known as chronic pain disease, in which pain perception becomes so dominant that work capacity, mental health, and physical performance are significantly impaired,” explains Prof. Dr. Wirz. He adds, “When pain is complex in nature or has become chronic, the multimodal approach should be selected.”

Special Expertise in Cancer-Related Pain

In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Prof. Dr. Wirz is actively involved in medical education and teaches at the University of Bonn. He is recognized as a leading expert and sought-after speaker on the topics of pain chronification, opioid therapy, cancer pain management, and postoperative pain treatment. He has also contributed extensively to the scientific literature through numerous publications, reviews, and book chapters in these fields. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Wirz serves as spokesperson for the Cancer Pain Working Group of the German Pain Society, the largest organization of its kind in Europe. His expertise has contributed to the development of several national clinical guidelines.

Patients at the newly redesigned pain management unit of Cura Clinic in Bad Honnef benefit from ideal treatment conditions. The new treatment facilities provide dedicated spaces for private consultations with psychotherapists, minimally invasive interventions, acupuncture, and infusion therapies. The thoughtfully designed multifunctional therapy room accommodates treatment modalities such as coordination training, occupational therapy, biofeedback, mirror therapy, and individualized physical therapy sessions. A dedicated movement therapy room, an art therapy studio, and a bistro further enhance the modernized facility.

Managing Chronic Pain

An important component of multimodal pain therapy is learning how to effectively manage chronic pain. Patients are taught practical strategies for coping with their pain and improving their overall well-being and perception of symptoms. “A comprehensive assessment of physical symptoms, psychological well-being, and the individual functional impact of pain is of crucial importance,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Wirz. The results of this assessment guide the therapeutic approach, whether through medication, physical or occupational therapy, interventional procedures, or psychological support.

As Head of Department, Prof. Dr. Wirz and his team are also responsible for all anesthetic services within the hospital. They provide patients with the full spectrum of modern general anesthesia techniques as well as regional anesthesia procedures targeting specific areas of the body, all in accordance with current scientific standards. “For the safety of our patients, it is essential that we tailor anesthesia planning for any upcoming procedure to each patient’s individual health status,” explains the specialist. During the preoperative consultation, he carefully evaluates the patient’s overall health, relevant pre-existing medical conditions, physical performance level, and any personal concerns or anxieties.

Following surgery, patients receive care on the hospital ward according to an individualized pain management plan developed specifically for their needs. When necessary, specialists from the anesthesiology pain service are consulted. Whenever appropriate, patients are provided with a portable patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump, enabling them to independently and individually regulate their pain medication administration.