Our physicians and team use a range of approaches from pain medications, physical therapy and lifestyle changes to the most technically advanced interventions and surgeries, like spinal cord stimulators, to give you the best possible chance of pain relief. 


PAIN MEDICATION

Medications can often help reduce chronic pain. Management of pain medications and ongoing optimisation is important to maximise pain relief and minimise side effects. 

We help manage your pain-relief (analgesic) medications which include anti-neuropathic agents, opioids and opioid risk management, antidepressants, muscle relaxants and other relevant pain medication.

JOINT BLOCKS

Joint blocks can help treat joint pain. 

If one or more joints is causing you pain, then it may be possible to focus treatment on them. Joints are either small joints like the facet joints that run up and down the spine or big joints like the hip and shoulder joints.

A joint block is an injection of anaesthetic (numbing medicine) and steroid (cortisone) that is used to help diagnose and treat pain. If the pain goes away, then it means that that joint is the most likely source of the pain.

NERVE BLOCKS

Nerve blocks can help treat nerve pain. 

A nerve block is a specialised injection that targets a certain nerve or group of nerves to help diagnose and treat pain. The purpose of the injection is to turn off the pain signals coming from a specific location in the body or to reduce inflammation in that area or around a nerve. 

We treat nerve pain caused by nerves like the sciatic nerve (for back and leg pain), suprascapular nerve (for shoulder pain), occipital nerves (for headaches) and many more nerves.


RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION

Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) treatment targets joint pain and nerve pain with the use of specialised equipment. Radiofrequency treatment involves carefully placing needles directly to nerves that are causing you pain (transmitting pain signals). Heat is produced at the tip of the needle and this heat is directed onto the nerves. This interrupts the nerves sending signals to the brain. Radiofrequency ablation can provide long-lasting pain relief (six months to a few years).

SPINAL CORD STIMULATION

Some consider spinal cord stimulation to be the 'game changer' in the pain management of some pain conditions.

Spinal cord stimulation (also called neuromodulation, neurostimulation or nerve stimulation) is an advanced pain treatment that sends an electrical impulse to the spinal cord to block pain signals from traveling up to the brain.

We use this treatment for people that have persistent nerve pain. 

It can restore nervous system function and provides 70% chance of having greater than 50% reduction in pain. 

IV INFUSIONS

IV infusion of pain relief medications can be used to manage certain chronic pain conditions.

Treatments can be used in carefully selected individuals to support pain management. Pain medications can be delivered using different methods of administration. 

They provide pain relief as well as allow opioid medication reduction.  


PRP INJECTIONS

Platelet rich plasma injection (more commonly known as PRP injection or PRP therapy) is a treatment that involves injecting a small amount of one’s own blood into slowly healing soft tissue injuries in order to speed up the body’s own healing process.

Platelets are a part of our blood which aid in clotting and tissue healing. They contain and can release a number of growth factors, special biologically active proteins that play an important role in tissue healing and regeneration.

PRP is designed to accelerate your body’s healing of musculoskeletal injuries naturally, without subjecting you to significant risk or adverse effects.

SELF MANAGEMENT

We aim to educate you and help you to get back in control again. 

Self-management refers to a person’s ability to manage their pain symptoms and treatment as well as the physical, emotional and social consequences and lifestyle changes caused by chronic pain.

It means coping with the day-to-day tasks needed to get you back to life. We use various methods including education on acute pain versus chronic pain, stress pain and appropriate use of medications.

Our aim is to reduce stress, improve your sleep, self-confidence and ability to deal with pain flare-ups.

EXERCISE AND FUNCTION

Ultimately, we need to help you get physically fitter and stronger.

In a wellness model of care we place emphasis on early restoration of function and the patient playing an active role in their recovery.

Methods we use include muscle reactivation (strength, core stability, flexibility, endurance), reducing deconditioning, activity pacing, activity management, fear avoidance and re-engagement into home based, social and work activities. 

We aim to achieve your desired wellness goals with physiotherapy (physical activity) and occupational therapy (functional goals).