Pain

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WATCH: The Pain Diaries Podcast - Episode 2: Nerve Pain Meds Explained by Experts: What Actually Works

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We’re back with a new episode of The Pain Diaries Podcast!

This time, we’re tackling one of the most common and confusing questions in pain care: what medications actually help with nerve pain?

Join pain specialists Dr Nick Christelis and Dr Bradley Lewinsohn as they break down the latest evidence behind medications for neuropathic pain - including gabapentinoids, antidepressants, topical agents, and more.

This expert-led conversation explores how medications fit into a broader pain management plan, what patients should know about side effects and effectiveness, and how to make informed decisions with your care team.

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Non-Surgical Treatments for Degenerative Disc Disease: Can Injections Help?

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Degenerative disc disease is a common source of chronic back pain, but effective relief doesn’t always require surgery. Learn what causes this condition, how it affects your spine, and explore non-surgical treatment options such as physiotherapy, targeted injections, and lifestyle changes to help you return to daily life with less pain.

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WATCH: Understanding Sciatica | When Is It Time to Seek Help?

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If you’ve ever experienced sharp pain, numbness, or weakness in the leg and wondered if it might be sciatica, you’re not alone.

Sciatica is a common condition, but it is often misunderstood.

Watch our new video, Understanding Sciatica: When Is It Time to Seek Help? for answers to questions like:

  • What are the signs?

  • What causes it?

  • When is it time to seek medical advice?

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WATCH: The Pain Diaries Podcast - Episode 1: 5 CRPS Myths That Delay Diagnosis & Treatment | CRPS Explained

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We’re excited to announce the launch of The Pain Diaries Podcast. Our first video episode is now live!

Watch Dr Nick Christelis and Dr Bradley Lewinsohn debunk 5 common myths about Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), one of the most misunderstood chronic pain conditions.

Learn why early diagnosis matters, what imaging can and can't show, and why patients often feel dismissed or misdiagnosed. This expert-led conversation sheds light on real CRPS stories and explores treatment options to support recovery and reduce stigma.

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Why is Back Pain Such a Pain?

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Why is Back Pain Such a Pain?

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.

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Pain Facts: Why Am I Still in Pain After Surgery? Understanding Post-Surgical Pain

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Have you ever found yourself asking these questions?

  • “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.

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Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia: When Pain Medications Make Pain Worse

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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.

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❔ Is a Pain Specialist the Right Choice for Managing Your Chronic Pain?

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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.

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🎙️ Dr Bradley Lewinsohn on the Victorian Saturday Mornings with Matt Preston

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🌟 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.

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National Pain Week 2024 - Day 5: Chronic Shoulder Pain - Radiofrequency Ablation of the Articular Branch Nerves

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This video focuses on how Pain Specialists can treat chronic shoulder pain using radiofrequency ablation of the nerves surrounding the shoulder joint.

Our other videos this week will include:

  • 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. 


Join us this National Pain Week to raise awareness and support the chronic pain community. Together, we can make a difference.

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National Pain Week 2024 - Day 4: Decoding Chronic Pain: Nociception vs Pain

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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.

Our other videos this week will include:

  • 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. 


Join us this National Pain Week to raise awareness and support the chronic pain community. Together, we can make a difference.

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National Pain Week 2024 - Day 3: Defining Chronic Pain: What you need to know

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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.

Our other videos this week will include:

  • 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. 


Join us this National Pain Week to raise awareness and support the chronic pain community. Together, we can make a difference.

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National Pain Week 2024 - Day 2: The Effects of Chronic Pain: Exploring its far-reaching Consequences

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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.

Our other videos this week will include:

  • 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. 


Join us this National Pain Week to raise awareness and support the chronic pain community. Together, we can make a difference.

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National Pain Week 2024 - Day 1: The First Consultation with a Pain Specialist – Why it Matters

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While we recognise National Pain Week this week, at Pain Specialists Australia every week is Pain Week for us. We have dedicated our practice to treating chronic pain all year round.

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.

 

To raise awareness for National Pain Week, Pain Specialists Australia will be publishing a short educational video each day this week, starting with The First Consultation with a Pain Specialist – Why it Matters.

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.

Our other videos this week will include:

  • 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. 


Join us this National Pain Week to raise awareness and support the chronic pain community. Together, we can make a difference.

5 Reasons why Cancer Pain Management should be more than just Opioids

5 Reasons why Cancer Pain Management should be more than just Opioids

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.

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💡Is it time to update your pain treatment plan?

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💡Is it time to update your pain treatment plan?

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. 

 

COPING TIPS EBOOK

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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.