Clinical area

Pain Medicine: assessment and personalised care

I assess pain through its history, possible mechanisms and effect on everyday life, so that we can choose the most appropriate options together.

The first consultation helps define priorities, useful investigations and possible treatment options.

Medical assessment in pain medicine

What pain medicine is

Acute pain often has a protective role and signals an injury or problem that needs assessment. When it persists, it may lose this role and involve mechanisms that maintain it over time.

Pain medicine is a medical discipline that studies these mechanisms and develops interventions intended to reduce the burden of pain, support function and improve quality of life.

When an assessment may be useful

An assessment may help when pain persists, returns frequently or affects movement, sleep, work, family life or social activities.

  • Joint, neck or lower back pain.
  • Neuropathic pain, neuralgia or pain following an infection.
  • Fibromyalgia, headache or widespread pain requiring assessment.
  • Pain associated with muscle tension, injury or sport.
  • Acute pain requiring an assessment of its mechanism and available options.

What happens at the first consultation

I reconstruct when the pain began, how it feels, what changes it and which treatments have already been tried. I also review general health, medicines, investigations and previous specialist assessments.

For an in-clinic appointment, bring relevant recent reports, previous specialist letters and an up-to-date list of medicines and supplements.

Possible options within the pathway

Treatment is personalised and may combine several options. The choice considers expected benefits, possible unwanted effects, interactions, preferences and personal goals.

  • Medicines when indicated and compatible with other treatment.
  • Nutraceutical preparations selected with attention to usefulness, safety and interactions.
  • Joint, periarticular, myofascial or intradermal injections for specific situations.
  • Dry needling and acupuncture when appropriate within the overall picture.
  • Guidance on movement, habits and other useful professional support.

When an online consultation may help

An Online Specialist Consultation may offer an initial discussion to review documents, discuss treatment or plan next steps when the situation can be assessed remotely.

If a physical examination, procedure or direct treatment is required, an in-clinic appointment is necessary.

Pathway options

The suitability of each treatment depends on clinical assessment; a technique is not chosen solely according to where it hurts.

Explore acupuncture as a broader clinical area and pain-relief mesotherapy as a specific intradermal technique.

Understand more

Information about persistent pain and tools that may form part of the pathway.

Frequently asked questions about pain medicine

Practical information to help you prepare for an assessment.

When pain persists, returns, limits activities, or when previous treatment has not provided enough benefit or raises concerns.

Acute pain is often linked to a recent event and acts as a warning. Chronic pain persists beyond the expected time and may involve different mechanisms.

Bring relevant reports, previous assessments and an up-to-date list of medicines, supplements and current treatment.

No. A procedure is only one possibility and is suggested only when appropriate to the assessment.

It may be possible for initial guidance or document review when a physical examination or direct treatment is not required.

No. Do not change treatment yourself; during the consultation we can review effectiveness, tolerability and possible interactions.

Would you like to begin with a pain assessment?

You can arrange an in-clinic appointment or explore the Online Specialist Consultation when your situation can be assessed remotely.

Book an appointment Explore the Online Specialist Consultation

The most suitable format depends on what needs to be assessed.