Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
How we experience pain is unique to each of us.
Pain can be influenced by many factors including anxiety, fear, coping mechanisms, depression, receiving bad news, poor sleep and withdrawal from caffeine, nicotine, alcohol or other drugs.
Our caregivers work closely with you to ensure your pain is identified and managed appropriately.
Types of pain
Acute pain
Acute pain usually occurs after an illness, injury or medical procedure such as surgery. It often improves as you recover or heal.
Nerve pain
Nerve pain can be experienced as burning, shooting, electric shocks, cold, numbness or pins and needles. Early assessment and treatment may reduce the risk of it becoming a chronic issue.
Chronic pain
Chronic pain is experienced consistently for more than 3 months. It can include back neck, knee and shoulder pain, repetitive strain injury and neurological pain syndromes. One in 5 Australians suffer from chronic pain. The longer you have chronic pain, the more persistent and resistant it becomes due to a process called central sensitisation.
Find a pain medicine specialist
Our pain management services
Our pain management service supports people living with acute, chronic post-surgical and complex pain. Our pain management specialists work closely with other health care professionals who are there to help reduce your pain.
Depending on your needs, your care team may include:
- pain specialists
- palliative care specialists
- surgeons
- psychiatrists
- pain clinical nurses
- nurse practitioners
- physiotherapists
- occupational therapists
- clinical psychologists
- pastoral care practitioners
Your pain management plan may include:
- education to help you understand your pain and how to manage it.
- personalised pain medication plans
- specialised procedures that may help relieve pain
- physical therapy and activity changes to reduce factors that may make pain worse
- behavioural and cognitive treatments to help reduce the impact of chronic pain
You may be referred to our pain management specialists by your treating doctor or general practitioner (GP).
How pain management can help
Good pain management may help you:
- move more comfortably, improve your mobility and return to normal daily activities
- recover more quickly after surgery and reduce the time you need to stay in hospital
- reduce analgesia use including that of opioids
- reduce the risk of some complications including pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis and infection
- experience less physical stress, anxiety and low mood related to pain
- better understand your pain medications including how they work and potential side effects
- reduce the risk of short-term pain developing into chronic, longer term pain
The benefits of treatment will depend on your individual circumstances. Please speak to your specialist about the options available and whether they are suitable for your needs.
Pain management blogs
Where we provide pain management services in Victoria
Where we provide pain management services in Western Australia
Costs and payment information
St John of God Health Care private hospitals provide benefits that include reduced wait times for surgery, your choice of specialist, and access to high-quality, compassionate care.
We provide a range of ways to pay for your treatment.