ONE in five people lives with chronic pain.
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Now a Port Macquarie clinic is working to improve the quality of life for people experiencing chronic plan.
Port Macquarie Chronic Pain Clinic opened at Port Macquarie Base Hospital in April with funding made available by NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner.
The team brings together anaesthetist Dr Fred Lips, clinical psychologist Dr Deborah Hennessey, physiotherapist Jeremy Rourke, clinical nurse consultant Debbie Wallace and patient support officer Sharon James.
Chronic pain is addressed as a disorder in its own right.
Pain is described as chronic when it lasts for more than three months despite appropriate investigation and treatment.
Patients see each of the clinicians.
A patient management plan, developed in consultation with Royal North Shore Hospital, supports the GP who manages the ongoing care.
The management plan could involve participation in the clinic’s STRIDES program which uses cognitive behavioural therapy methods to help people in chronic pain learn effective ways to manage their pain.
Patients need a referral to the clinic.
Dr Lips said they expected the program to result in a reduction in medication and fewer hospital visits.
Clinical nurse consultant Debbie Wallace said they worked to change people’s response to pain so when people felt pain they didn’t think they were causing further harm.
“It’s hurt but it doesn’t equate to further harm,” she said.
“We are changing how they view their pain in the long term, so they can rely less on medication and more within themselves.”
Clinical psychologist Dr Deborah Hennessey said chronic pain impacted on people’s lives in various ways, and their anxiety also affected how they felt and what they did.
“One of the saddest things we see is how it impacts on people’s family life,” Dr Hennessey said.
Chronic pain affects people’s sleep, their lifestyle and work.
The clinic has a relationship with Royal North Shore Hospital Pain Management and Research Institute which provides clinical consultation and mentoring.
The Agency of Clinical Innovation supports the project.
Chronic pain costs the Australian economy an estimated $34 billion per annum and is the nation’s third most costly health problem.
The state government has committed $26 million over four years to a pain management plan to expand the number of pain clinics in NSW, notably in rural areas, increase the number of expert pain management clinicians, increase research and support the effective management of pain in the community.
