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“Back pain is extremely common. Our backs are an intricate structure comprising bones, muscles, nerves & joints. “The hurt can stem from sore muscles, ligaments, & tendons, or from herniated disks, fractures, & other problems in our upper, middle, & lower back. Sometimes we feel the effects right away. But in many cases, back...

Whether it’s strained muscles, spinal stenosis, or a herniated disc – having an accurate diagnosis from a Pain Specialist as soon as possible will enable you to understand the root cause/s of the pain. After the diagnosis, you will be given a Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan, which is key to rapid recovery & preventing...

Misconception No 1: All You Need to Do is Sit Up Straight! If you visit a Pain Specialist, they will tell you that if you spend prolonged periods of time sitting up straight without periodically getting up and moving about, then you will generate back strain. “So if you work in an office setting,...

Untreated long-term back pain has become the norm for countless people who have not had the opportunity, or taken the necessary steps to be treated by a specialist Pain Consultant. Furthermore, it is all too common for patients to be put off going to visit their GP due to their lack of specialised training,...

“Spinal pain in the lumbar region (lower back) & cervical region (neck) are highly prevalent & are often the causes for many lost work days. Lumbar muscle strains & sprains are the most common causes of low back pain. The thoracic spine can also be a site of spinal pain, but because it’s much...

“As Pain Consultants make their patients aware: “chronic pain is a common, complex & challenging condition, where confronting the biological, social, physical & psychological contexts is vital to successful outcomes in primary care. Recent screening tools & brief intervention techniques [employed by Pain Doctors], can be effective in helping them identify, stratify & manage...

Pain Consultants use a biopsychosocial model for evaluating & managing patients’ long-term pain. On your first appointment they will conduct a: “thorough comprehensive evaluation to determine your underlying pain pathology, other medical & mental health problems, previously trialled treatment strategies, & psychosocial treatment barriers. They will then structure a personalised multimodal treatment plan based...

Pain Doctors frequently recommend cognitive behavioural therapy. – Also known as CBT, this is a potentially successful form of talk therapy “that helps people identify & develop skills to change negative thoughts & behaviours. CBT says that individuals — not outside situations & events — create their own experiences, pain included. And by changing...

As experienced Pain Consultants will tell you: “Pain is a complex stressor that presents a significant challenge to most aspects of functioning. It contributes to substantial physical, psychological & occupational issues, particularly in its chronic form. To that end, as medical intervention frequently cannot resolve pain completely, there is a need for management approaches...

“As the population ages & individuals live long enough to be burdened by multiple comorbid conditions, the face of the chronic pain patient has changed, & so have the challenges confronting the clinicians involved in their care. Now, more than ever, it is important [for Pain Specialists] to integrate knowledge from the various fields...