Pain Services

The Pain Service at RCHT includes:

• Pain Clinic Outpatient service: consultation and treatment by Pain Specialist doctors, nurses and trainees
• Pain Management Outpatient service: assessment and therapies by allied health professionals (Psychology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy)
• Advice & Guidance

When referring for an out-patient appointment, please refer directly to the service you require. If in doubt, referrals should be sent to the Pain Clinic in the first instance, where they will be triaged by a Pain Consultant and re-directed to the Pain Management team as appropriate.

Background

Chronic pain is defined as pain persisting after the normal healing process has occurred or in the absence of tissue injury. It is sometimes defined as pain lasting for more than 3 months.

It affects up to 45% of the population. Unlike acute pain, which subsides as healing progresses, chronic pain causes the individual to experience physiological and psychological symptoms which can lead to significant and prolonged disability.

The team

The team comprises of  Consultants, a GPST, Clinical Psychologists, a Specialist Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Specialist Pain Nurses.

The service

An MDT approach is taken to make a comprehensive assessment of the patient and their pain condition. All patients will be provided with patient education about chronic pain in a format appropriate to their needs.

All patients will be given a plan for management of their condition which is communicated to them and their primary care team (and other health care providers or agencies essential to their management).

The management plan may include advice on medication or the patient may be referred to a range of therapies available through the pain service or by other health care providers.

The focus of the advice will be centred on the patient’s condition and their individual circumstances, including co-morbidities and wellbeing.

Scope

• Neuropathic pain disorders and syndromes
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (urgent referral if less than 6 months)
• Chronic Post-Surgical Pain Syndromes
• Uncontrolled cancer related pain (in conjunction with Palliative Care Team)
• Thoracic and cervical pain
• Chronic abdominal and pelvic pain 
• Chronic Pain Syndrome
• Complex medication or escalating strong analgesic needs

Date reviewed                       10/06/2020                              Next review due                    10/06/2021
GP Sifter                                 Dr Laura Vines                       Version                                   2.0
Contributors                          Dr Juan Graterol, Pain Consultant & Speciality Lead,
                                                Dr Anna Weiss, Pain Consultant
                                                Dr Alicia Ray, Lead Clinical Psychologist