Central Coast News

Over 3.5 million Australian’s are estimated as experiencing chronic (long-term) pain. Like mental health, chronic pain is an invisible phantom. As July 25 – 31 marks National Pain Week, Reliance GP Super Clinic is encouraging the community to break down the stigma surrounding pain and empowering sufferers to effectively manage their condition.

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage". A study by Chronic Pain Australia found that 17% of sufferers were using medication to manage pain, making it the most common form of treatment. Only 11% were using physiotherapy, despite evidence that this is amongst the most effective means of managing pain-related conditions. 

The intangibility of pain continues to be a major reported issue for people living with it. This July Reliance Medical Practice with Platinum Physiotherapy aims to work with the local community and influence the perspectives of patients, and their friends, family and healthcare providers. “All pain is an individual human experience that is entirely subjective and is based on a cumulative effect of one’s past experiences, emotions, health, belief systems and more,” explains Platinum Physiotherapist Kim Findlay, of Reliance GP Super Clinic. “Pain is a danger signal from your brain which may or may not be associated with tissue damage.”

“Think of when you burn your hand on a scorching hot surface – it’s an important message to the brain to take your hand away from the danger of the fire,” says Findlay. The physiotherapist and director explains the danger of stigma surrounding pain, “There’s so much pressure to be “strong” and to not feel things these days. It’s not about that at all, it’s a sensory reaction in the nervous system designed to warn us. Imagine if you didn’t feel the pain of a burn to alert you to a fire on the stove– you could suffer very serious damage.”

Left untreated, chronic pain can have a devastating impact on all aspects of sufferers’ lives. About 65 percent of people with chronic pain report interference with daily activities which can have a negative impact on relationships and quality of life. Experts describe the consequences as having a “dispersion” effect, such as; loss of income due to the inability to work full-time positions, depression, physical inactivity (leading to higher rates of heart disease, obesity, etc.) and the social stigma surrounding the misunderstanding of pain.

While most short term (acute) pain is attributed to tissue damage and can be easily treated through for example physiotherapy, chronic pain exists beyond tissue damage. Common sites of pain include; Back, head and neck, shoulder, pelvis, groin, abdomen and skin.

The national study found the most common causes of pain were: Illness, work injury, sport injury, car accidents, and repetitive strain, while a large portion is more closely linked to lifestyle factors and an “over- excited’ general nervous system. Findlay says diagnosing pain is important because “It acts as a warning to the body to seek help. Effective and timely treatment is essential to prevent it progressing into a chronic condition.”

Reliance’s team of GPs work in collaboration with exercise physiologists and physiotherapists at Platinum Physiotherapy when treating patients. Consultations involve an initial in-depth evaluation of posture, movement and biomechanical analysis; with treatment through McKenzie therapy exercises, clinical pilates, joint/tissue loading and mobilisation, and more, depending on the unique circumstances of individual patients.

“We want to provide a valuable service, working with patients to heal or prevent damage and gradually gain control over lost functionality,” Findlay explains. “Our team uses a model based on the latest evidence based practice and integrated management plans.”

Platinum Physiotherapy runs the Reliance fully integrated Pain Clinic, one of the only clinics on the Central Coast to offer completely private consultation rooms, a customised gym on site, and experienced staff utilising evidence based practice with access to GP's, nurses, specialists and other Allied Health Practitioners in the one location. Regular case conferencing at no extra cost to patients allows practitioners to work together effectively to ensure diagnoses and treatment plan remains streamlined.

To find out more about how you or someone you love can help manage pain please visit the website below.

Call 4304 1333 or book online for a referral to the Reliance Pain Clinic.