Chronic Pain

While acute pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you to possible injury and the need to take care of yourself, chronic pain is different.

Chronic pain is usually defined as pain that has persisted for 3 months or longer. Often pain remains after the initial injury has healed and there is no longer any detectable damage. In the chronic stage, often treatment recommendations that were suitable for acute pain are no longer appropriate. In this stage, clients may find that their medication is increasingly less effective, they need to take larger does to get any relief. In this stage, self-management activities are recommended to help manage pain in addition to, or in place of medication.

Intensity and frequency of pain can depend on:

Emotions - anger, frustration, depression, stress, boredom can all negatively impact on pain levels.
Activity - e.g. too much or too little, excessive rest, exercise or sleep.
Physiology - e.g. extent/type of injury, muscle tension, medication, stress, de-conditioning.
Environment - e.g. furniture, family reactions, weather, living conditions.

A Psychologist, in conjunction with other treating professionals such as your GP, Physiotherapist and an Exercise Physiologist can assist you with developing an effective self-management approach to chronic pain.

An active self-management approach includes:

Exercise
Relaxation techniques
Appropriate medication
Goal Setting
Activity Pacing
Thought techniques

Your Psychologists at The Sports Injury Clinic can assist you in the treatment for a variety of mental health issues. Some people may be eligible to access rebates under Medicare. In order to determine your eligibility, your GP will need to complete a detailed mental health assessment and prepare a Mental Health Care Plan before referring you to a psychologist. You should book a longer session with your GP to enable time for this.

Eligible patients can generally receive:

Up to 12 individual services in a calendar year. Your referring doctor will assess your progress after the first six sessions.
Up to 12 group therapy services in a calendar year where such services are available and seen as appropriate by your referring doctor and the psychologist.