Almost everyone experiences back pain at some point in their life. It affects about 80% of adults, making it one of the most common causes of disability and sick days. Back pain can appear suddenly or develop gradually, affecting a small area or spreading widely across the back. While some cases are easily resolved, others can be persistent and difficult to treat.
“Why do I still have pain after surgery? I thought it was supposed to stop it.”
“Why is my pain worse, or different, than it was before surgery?”
“If my surgery was successful, why haven’t I felt any relief?”
These are questions we hear often, and they point to a complicated issue: Persistent Post-Surgical Pain (PPSP), also known as Chronic Pain After Surgery.
Opioids are widely used, and strong medications used to manage pain, especially in cases of severe or chronic pain. However, these drugs come with a range of side effects, and one of the more perplexing and troubling phenomena is called opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH).
This condition describes a paradoxical response where long-term opioid use can actually increase sensitivity to pain, leading to a worsened pain state rather than pain reduction, for which it was intended.
In this blog, we'll explore what opioid-induced hyperalgesia is, who is at risk, and how it can be managed effectively.
Dealing with relentless, chronic pain can be disheartening, especially when it feels like no one has the right solution or someone suggests you simply have to live with it.
You might find yourself asking: "Is this really my life now? This pain is draining me. Nerve pain is unbearable. Shouldn't there be more modern solutions to manage my pain?"
The good news is, yes, there are ways to manage pain effectively, even if you haven't found the right approach yet. It could be that you need to look in new places or that your healthcare providers haven't pointed you in the right direction yet.
🌟 Exciting News! 🌟
Our very own Pain Specialist, Dr Bradley Lewinsohn, joined Dr Sally Cockburn on the Victorian Saturday Mornings with Matt Preston - ABC Radio Show on Saturday 27 July 2024!
They delved into chronic pain topics, discussing pain medications like opioids and advanced therapies such as nerve stimulators for neuropathic pain.
Dr Lewinsohn’s segment begins at approx. 2 hours 40 minutes into the program.
This video focuses on how Pain Specialists can treat chronic shoulder pain using radiofrequency ablation of the nerves surrounding the shoulder joint.
Defining Chronic Pain: What you need to know
The Effects of Chronic Pain: Exploring its far-reaching Consequences
Can Chronic Pain Be Fatal? Understanding the Risks
Decoding Your Chronic Pain: The Power of Curiosity & Actively Understanding Pain
And more.
Understanding your chronic pain is one of the important steps to managing chronic pain.
There are many parts of pain to understand which we will elaborate on over time.
This presentation discusses the significant difference between nociception and pain.
The Effects of Chronic Pain: Exploring its far-reaching Consequences
Chronic Shoulder Pain – Radiofrequency Ablation of the Articular Branch Nerves
Can Chronic Pain Be Fatal? Understanding the Risks
Decoding Your Chronic Pain: The Power of Curiosity & Actively Understanding Pain
And more.
This video focuses on how we define the different types of pain. This is a vital subject because if the definition of the pain syndrome is correct, the correct treatment can be used.
We look at acute pain vs. chronic pain as well as all the different sub-types of chronic pain.
The Effects of Chronic Pain: Exploring its far-reaching Consequences
Decoding Your Chronic Pain: Nociception vs Pain
Chronic Shoulder Pain – Radiofrequency Ablation of the Articular Branch Nerves
Can Chronic Pain Be Fatal? Understanding the Risks
Decoding Your Chronic Pain: The Power of Curiosity & Actively Understanding Pain
And more.
Chronic pain has far reaching consequences. It affects not only the patient but the family, and even our wider society.
Learn more about the far reaching consequences of chronic pain, which may also be a higher mortality.
The First Consultation with a Pain Specialist – Why it Matters
Defining Chronic Pain: What you need to know
Decoding Your Chronic Pain: Nociception vs Pain
Chronic Shoulder Pain – Radiofrequency Ablation of the Articular Branch Nerves
Can Chronic Pain Be Fatal? Understanding the Risks
Decoding Your Chronic Pain: The Power of Curiosity & Actively Understanding Pain
And more.
As one of Australia's leading pain clinics, we have made pain our world, which allows us to be leaders in reducing pain and the suffering it causes.
National Pain Week is Australia’s annual awareness event for chronic pain. Chronic Pain Australia aims to draw attention to the experiences of those living with chronic pain and reduce the social and other barriers associated with managing this condition.
At Pain Specialists Australia, we understand the daily challenges faced by those with chronic pain. Our mission is to provide compassionate, effective care to help you live a more comfortable and fulfilling life.
The first consultation with a Pain Specialist is one of the most important aspects of pain management. It allows the patient to tell their pain story in detail. It allows the Pain Specialist to understand the pain and how it is affecting the patient. Learn more about what you need to come away with after that first consultation.
Defining Chronic Pain: What you need to know
The Effects of Chronic Pain: Exploring its far-reaching Consequences
Decoding Your Chronic Pain: Nociception vs Pain
Chronic Shoulder Pain – Radiofrequency Ablation of the Articular Branch Nerves
Can Chronic Pain Be Fatal? Understanding the Risks
Decoding Your Chronic Pain: The Power of Curiosity & Actively Understanding Pain
And more.
Patients with chronic intractable neuropathic pain often struggle to find relief from conventional treatments like medication therapy or exercise. Fortunately, advancements in neuromodulation technologies offer new treatment options.
Neuromodulation involves delivering electrical currents to nerve fibres responsible for pain, directly impacting the source of the neurological issue. While spinal cord stimulation has been widely used for patients with chronic pain in the trunk and limbs, recent developments in direct peripheral nerve stimulation show promising results for chronic neuropathic pain.
You might ask what a ‘peripheral nerve’ is. The peripheral nervous system is a network of nerves that runs throughout the head, neck, and body. It carries messages to and from the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
One option for treating chronic neuropathic pain is Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS) of the peripheral nervous system.
The prevalence of pain among cancer patients varies depending on which studies you reference, but it's often reported that up to 90% of cancer patients experience pain. Particularly concerning is that the severity of pain is typically high, especially in the later stages of cancer. When you consider that around 50% of cancer patients do not receive adequate pain management, it's clear that current approaches need re-evaluation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder has played a significant role in improving cancer pain control. It's a simple concept, easy to understand and apply, and has been widely adopted. However, despite its benefits, it still falls short in many cases. More recently, experts in pain medicine and palliative care have started questioning whether the WHO ladder is still the best approach.
In the world of pain management, treatments are changing all the time, hence updating your treatment plan or seeking a second medical opinion can be a pivotal step towards refining and optimising your treatment pathway. Everyone’s experience with pain is unique, and different specialists may offer diverse perspectives and insights.
A second opinion, especially from an experienced pain specialist, brings fresh expertise and alternative viewpoints, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of your condition. This process can unveil new treatment options, innovative approaches, or adjustments to existing plans, ultimately enhancing the precision and effectiveness of your pain management strategy. Additionally, it empowers patients with a sense of confidence and control over their healthcare decisions. Collaborating with multiple specialists fosters a more personalised and patient-centric approach, ensuring that your treatment pathway aligns seamlessly with your specific needs and aspirations for improved well-being.
As one of Australia's leading multidisciplinary pain specialist clinics, we'll explain what chronic pain is and why it occurs. We'll also explain that chronic pain should be managed as a chronic illness and not just a symptom of an illness.
We will provide you with coping tips and practical guidance to help you take the first steps to getting yourself on the road to recovery.
