Pain Management

Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists beyond the normal expected healing time, typically lasting more than three months. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP, 2020), pain is “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.”

Chronic pain can significantly affect all aspects of a person’s life, including their social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being, ultimately impacting quality of life. An individual’s experience of pain is influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors.

Effective management of chronic pain often requires an interdisciplinary team approach. This team may include healthcare professionals such as physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, and psychologists, who work together to develop a patient-centered care plan tailored to the unique needs of each individual. Management strategies may involve medical interventions (such as medication or surgery) as well as non-medical modalities, including physiotherapy, psychological support (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy), and alternative treatments like acupuncture, massage, and mindfulness.

To enhance adherence, management programs should be meaningful and engaging for the patient. Encouraging patients to take ownership of their care, set attainable goals, and receive regular support can improve outcomes and promote lasting lifestyle changes.

Examples of conditions which we can support in the practice, medically, may include the following; but are not limited to, (referrals are to pain informed colleagues and allied health professionals). Past traumas can present at any time as pain conditions

Sexual pain disorders are of special interest as they marry my passions.