Pain Management Services
Pharmacotherapy
Commonly used for the treatment of pain
- Simple Analgesics - Paracetamol & Anti-inflammatories
- Anti-neuropathic - These medications work on nerve pain
- Anti-depressants - Tricyclic antidepressants & Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor
- Muscle relaxants - Benzodiazepines
- Opioids - chronic pain medications may not help reduce the pain and carry serious risks and include Weak Opioids and Strong Opioids
- Topical Medication - creams or ointments through compound pharmacies
- Infusions - infusion over a few days as an in-hospital treatment, for whom oral pain medications have failed
Interventional Pain Management
- Nerve Block - Neurostimulation treatment reduces nerve activity through the delivery of electrical stimulation to targeted sites of the body.
- Radiofrequency - Radiofrequency neurotomy creates a heat lesion on certain nerves, with the goal of interrupting the pain signals to the brain, thereby eliminating pain. It provides long-lasting relief to those suffering from facet joint or sacroiliac joint pain compared to cortisone injection
- Neuromodulation & Spinal Cord Stimulation - A nerve block is a specific injection that targets a certain nerve or plexus to help diagnose and treat pain.
Self Management
Self-management refers to a person’s ability to manage their pain symptoms and treatment as well as the physical, emotional and social consequences and lifestyle changes caused by chronic pain.
Self-management includes education on acute vs. chronic pain, managing stress and pain, and appropriate use of medications. Self-management focuses on stress reduction, cognitive restructuring, behavioural modification, sleep improvement, self-confidence, and dealing with pain flare-ups.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy intervention for chronic pain focuses on empowering people to manage their conditions.
Training in self-management for people with pain is part of a person-centred approach that aims to educate people on pain science including neuroplasticity, lifestyle modification, and the optimisation of function and independence.
Psychology
Psychologists are experts in helping people cope with the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that accompany chronic pain.
They may work with individuals and families through an independent private practice or as part of a health care team in a clinical setting. Patients with chronic pain may be referred to psychologists by other health care providers.
Psychologists may collaborate with other healthcare professionals to address both the physical and emotional aspects of the patient’s pain.
