pain-medicine

Pain Medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on helping patients with chronic and persistent pain problems. Unresolved chronic pain is a serious problem with significant consequences. As a result of poorly controlled pain, many people suffer reduced quality of life, decreased mobility, withdrawal from social life, anxiety and — for nearly a third of chronic pain sufferers — depression. The good news is that today, modern medicine has a much greater understanding of chronic pain and its mechanisms; as well as the need for specialised care — than previously. Pain physicians today are trained in the complex physical and psychological aspects of chronic pain and in new, effective treatments. In particular, certain non-surgical pain interventions utilised by pain physicians can often bridge the gap between conservative care and surgical options.

More Medications?

Not necessarily. The main objective in pain management is to formulate a holistic plan for pain control and to enable coping strategies. The discipline is multidisciplinary, meaning that the comprehensive holistic plan will often also include physical therapy, counselling and in some cases, minor day-procedures.

Common Symptoms and Conditions

  • Chronic Neck Pain
  • Chronic Low Back Pain
  • Headaches and Facial Pain (including Trigeminal Neuralgia)
  • Herniated Disc and Sciatica
  • Cancer Pain (Eg. Pancreatic Cancer Pain)
  • Nerve Pain (including Complex Regional Pain Syndrome & Painful Diabetic Neuropathy)
  • Chronic Joint Pain (Including Shoulder Impringement, Heel Pain & Achilles Tendinopathy)
  • Chronic Abdominal Pain (Including Chronic Pelvic Pain and Chronic Pancreatitis)