Key Takeaway
If pain is limiting your life and first-line care has not helped, a specialist pain clinic can give you a proper diagnosis and an action plan on Day 1, not more waiting.
In Australia, a pain specialist physician is a recognised medical specialty (FFPMANZCA) that manages complex pain with medical, interventional, and rehabilitation options tailored to you.
Why a Pain Specialist now?
Chronic pain is common and often under-treated. Millions of Australians live with it, driving disability and lost quality of life.
Pain is complex and can persist even when scans are “normal.” Specialists are trained to connect symptoms, function, and the nervous system, then act.
You should not have to wait months to be taken seriously. Public pain services have long waits; private specialists and private pain clinics do bridge that gap.
What a Pain Specialist does?
A Specialist Pain Medicine Physician (FFPMANZCA) is a specialist doctor with additional, advanced training in pain assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, medical, interventional pain procedures, and rehabilitative, who working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
In practice that means:
Clear diagnosis logic when the story and scans do not match
Medication optimisation with a plan to avoid long-term opioid dependence
Image-guided procedures when indicated (e.g., nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, epidurals)
Neuromodulation options where necessary (e.g., spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion stimulation or even intrathecal drug delivery) when conservative care fails
Joined-up care with physiotherapy, psychology, and self-management strategies
The Pain Specialists Australia (PSA) difference: fast, structured, and human
We designed our service around the problems patients tell us about—not being believed, too many hand-offs, and long waits.
Contact within 24 hours of referral
85% of patients seen within 30 days
CRPS fast-tracked as urgent
Diagnosis and a documented plan on Day 1
We act, not defer: no one leaves wondering “what next?”
Integrated team: FFPMANZCA specialists, physiotherapists, psychologists, nursing, and care coordination
Our job is clarity first, action second, every consult ends with next steps you understand.
What to expect at your first visit
One goal: name the problem and agree the plan.
Comprehensive assessment: your story, function, flares, sleep, mood, goals
Targeted exam and review of prior tests; we order tests only when that adds value
Diagnosis or diagnostic plan: why it hurts, what that means. Watch a video here
Written plan: medicine changes, procedures if indicated, rehab pathway, timelines, and follow-up
Do I need a referral?
Yes, a GP or specialist referral lets you claim a Medicare rebate for the consultation. Your GP can make the referral for 12 months (or longer where appropriate).
Public vs private: choosing access that fits your needs
Public clinics are vital, but demand is high and wait times can be months for assessment.
Private clinics, like our clinic, can see you sooner so you can get a diagnosis and plan quickly, then coordinate with your GP and public or private providers as needed.
Conditions we see often
We see it all but these are some of the more common conditions we assess and treat.
Back and neck pain including disc pain, facet joint, sacroiliac, and post-surgical pain syndrome
Neuropathic pain including CRPS, trigeminal neuralgia, radicular pain, post-herpetic neuralgia
Arthritis and joint pain, tendon-related pain, complex regional patterns
Pelvic and abdominal wall nerve pain, post-surgical pain syndromes
Headache and facial pain where a nerve-based approach helps
Treatments we may discuss
Medication optimisation with safety and deprescribing plans
Image-guided injections: selective nerve root, medial branch blocks, epidurals
Radiofrequency ablation for proven facet or SI joint pain
Neuromodulation: nerve stimulation or intrathecal drug delivery when appropriate
Rehabilitation: targeted physiotherapy, flare-aware pacing, sleep and mood strategies
Education and self-care: you will know what to do next and why
Why this matters
Chronic pain is common and exhausting, to you, your family, and the community. The right diagnosis and an early, joined-up plan improve outcomes and reduce the cycle of tests without answers.
Ready for answers?
Referrers: Send your referral and we will contact your patient within 24 hours, triage promptly, and return a Day-1 diagnosis and plan with clear next steps.
Patients: Ask your GP for a referral to Pain Specialists Australia (FFPMANZCA) and we will take it from there.
FAQs
Do I need a GP referral to see a pain specialist in Australia?
Yes—a referral lets you claim a Medicare rebate and helps us coordinate with your GP.
How fast can I be seen?
At PSA, we contact you within 24 hours of referral and 85% of patients are seen within 30 days. CRPS is fast-tracked as urgent.
What happens at the first appointment?
History, targeted exam, review of tests, then diagnosis and a written plan the same day. If we need further testing, we explain exactly why and what it means.
This is what could can expect from your first appointment. Watch the video here
Are injections or procedures always necessary?
No. We start with diagnosis and the simplest options likely to help. We only recommend procedures when they add clear value to the diagnosis or treatment plan.
What if my scans are normal?
That is common in chronic pain. We diagnose based on your pattern, exam, and response to targeted measures—not scans alone.
How much will it cost? Will Medicare or private health help?
A referral enables a Medicare rebate for consults. Private insurance generally does not cover out-of-hospital consult fees but may apply to procedures. We give you clear estimates before anything goes ahead.
Good luck, and remember, you're not alone in this journey.
