For Clinicians
For Clinicians
Clinical resources for colleagues
Clinical resources for colleagues
A collection of practical articles for GPs, physiotherapists, surgeons and other healthcare professionals caring for people with persistent or complex pain. These articles explore clinical reasoning, pain mechanisms, interventional treatments and when specialist pain assessment may be helpful.
A collection of practical articles for GPs, physiotherapists, surgeons and other healthcare professionals caring for people with persistent or complex pain. These articles explore clinical reasoning, pain mechanisms, interventional treatments and when specialist pain assessment may be helpful.
When should I refer a patient to a pain specialist — and when should I not?
When should I refer a patient to a pain specialist — and when should I not?
When does pain specialist input genuinely add value? This article considers when to refer patients with persistent or complex pain — and when completing investigation or obtaining an appropriate specialist diagnosis should come first. It also explores what makes a pain referral useful and how specialist assessment can support rather than replace existing care.
When does pain specialist input genuinely add value? This article considers when to refer patients with persistent or complex pain — and when completing investigation or obtaining an appropriate specialist diagnosis should come first. It also explores what makes a pain referral useful and how specialist assessment can support rather than replace existing care.
Persistent post-surgical pain: when recovery doesn't follow the expected path
Persistent post-surgical pain: when recovery doesn't follow the expected path
Persistent pain after surgery requires more than escalating analgesia. This article considers when ongoing pain should prompt surgical reassessment, how to recognise neuropathic and other pain mechanisms, and the role of pain medicine in supporting rehabilitation and recovery when healing alone does not resolve symptoms.
Persistent pain after surgery requires more than escalating analgesia. This article considers when ongoing pain should prompt surgical reassessment, how to recognise neuropathic and other pain mechanisms, and the role of pain medicine in supporting rehabilitation and recovery when healing alone does not resolve symptoms.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: recognising CRPS and what to do next
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: recognising CRPS and what to do next
CRPS can be difficult to recognise and is sometimes both under- and over-diagnosed. This article reviews the clinical features and Budapest criteria, important differential diagnoses and the principles of early management, with an emphasis on careful explanation, symptom control and restoration of movement and function.
CRPS can be difficult to recognise and is sometimes both under- and over-diagnosed. This article reviews the clinical features and Budapest criteria, important differential diagnoses and the principles of early management, with an emphasis on careful explanation, symptom control and restoration of movement and function.
When chronic pain becomes widespread: beyond the false choice between structural pathology and sensitisation
When chronic pain becomes widespread: beyond the false choice between structural pathology and sensitisation
Persistent widespread pain rarely fits neatly into a single mechanistic category. This article considers how structural pathology, nociceptive and neuropathic input, and altered pain processing can coexist — and how recognising sensitisation can broaden clinical understanding without invalidating a patient's pain or overlooking treatable pathology.
Persistent widespread pain rarely fits neatly into a single mechanistic category. This article considers how structural pathology, nociceptive and neuropathic input, and altered pain processing can coexist — and how recognising sensitisation can broaden clinical understanding without invalidating a patient's pain or overlooking treatable pathology.
Facet joint pain: steroid injections, medial branch blocks and radiofrequency denervation
Facet joint pain: steroid injections, medial branch blocks and radiofrequency denervation
Facet joint injections, medial branch blocks and radiofrequency denervation are sometimes discussed interchangeably, but they have different purposes. This article explains their respective roles in assessing and treating suspected facet-mediated pain, and why careful patient selection and integration with rehabilitation matter.
Facet joint injections, medial branch blocks and radiofrequency denervation are sometimes discussed interchangeably, but they have different purposes. This article explains their respective roles in assessing and treating suspected facet-mediated pain, and why careful patient selection and integration with rehabilitation matter.
When the MRI doesn’t explain the pain: making sense of discordant imaging and symptoms
When the MRI doesn’t explain the pain: making sense of discordant imaging and symptoms
MRI findings and pain severity do not always match. This article explores how clinicians can interpret imaging alongside the patient’s history, examination and clinical presentation, recognising that structural changes, nervous system sensitivity and other pain mechanisms can coexist.
MRI findings and pain severity do not always match. This article explores how clinicians can interpret imaging alongside the patient’s history, examination and clinical presentation, recognising that structural changes, nervous system sensitivity and other pain mechanisms can coexist.
Trauma-responsive care in pain medicine: maintaining safety without losing clinical rigour
Trauma-responsive care in pain medicine: maintaining safety without losing clinical rigour
Trauma-responsive care in pain medicine does not require clinicians to identify trauma or attribute persistent pain to previous experiences. This article considers how principles of safety, choice and control can be incorporated into assessment and interventional practice while maintaining diagnostic rigour, appropriate investigation and a broad understanding of pain mechanisms.
Trauma-responsive care in pain medicine does not require clinicians to identify trauma or attribute persistent pain to previous experiences. This article considers how principles of safety, choice and control can be incorporated into assessment and interventional practice while maintaining diagnostic rigour, appropriate investigation and a broad understanding of pain mechanisms.