Pain Management

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We aim to assist patients to reduce the impact of persistent pain by optimising pain treatments, improving function and promoting self-management.

Clinical service overview

The Caulfield Pain Management and Research Centre is part of the DHHS Health Independence Program.

The service is a multidisciplinary service focused on exploring how to self-manage to live well with the presence of persistent or chronic pain.

The Centre aims to assist patients to reduce the impact of persistent pain by optimising pain treatments, improving function and promoting self-management.

This is achieved through expert assessment, patient education and access to a number of medical, Nursing and Allied Health treatment modalities.

The centre undertakes research on outcomes of pain treatments, psychosocial aspects of chronic pain, pain and ageing and novel therapies for pain.

It also has close links with The Alfred's Acute Pain Service (in Anaesthesia) as well as various specialist services treating chronic pain conditions. Together the services are accredited for training in Pain Medicine by the Faculty of Pain Medicine.

Services Offered

  • Specialist Medical assessment including advice and recommendations for ongoing treatment
  • Addiction medicine
  • Medication reduction advice and support
  • Psychiatry
  • Multidisciplinary Pain Management programmes
  • Functional and Physical programmes
  • Clinical psychology
  • Education to referrers and other parties
  • Referral for interventions, when indicated
  • Medico Legal reports

Pain Management Programs Offered

  • Service information and triage consultation – telephone consultation
  • Start UP group program focusing on function and movement
  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) Pain Management Group programs
  • Modules – Feldenkrais, Tai Chi, stress, sleep
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Individual Allied Health Therapy

Following acceptance of a referral:

Clients will be;

  1. Sent an Initial Pain questionnaire via email /post that needs to be completed and returned before an appointment can be made.
  2. Invited to attend the service information and triage consultation, a 30-minute telephone consultation to discuss client expectations and ensure this is the right service at the right time their needs.

    Some clients may go direct to a medical assessment where there are identified risk and other areas of  concern.

After this the assessment process may involve;

  • An assessment with our Allied Health multidisciplinary team (this includes OT, Physio and Psychology) and is requirement if continuing on with therapeutic programs.

    The assessment report is sent to the client and their GP and or referring Doctor detailing the assessment outcomes and recommendations for further treatment/therapy.
  • An Assessment with a medical Pain Specialist.

    Correspondence will be sent to the GP/referral advising of any recommendations following an initial Assessment and review appointments.

Exclusion criteria

Referral are not appropriate for:

  • Patients who are currently not willing to explore living well with pain and not willing to learn to self-manage ongoing pain
  • Patients already referred to another pain service for the assessment, or treatment of, the identifiable cause of pain
  • Patients currently undertaking another chronic pain management program
  • Patients with mild or tension headaches or untreated typical migraine
  • Patients who have already completed a multidisciplinary, comprehensive chronic pain management program or service for the same identifiable cause of pain where their clinical symptoms, or their readiness to undertake a chronic pain management program, remains unchanged
  • Patients who only want an intervention such as an injection or dry needling

The following conditions are not routinely seen at Alfred Health:

  • Patients who are being treated for the same condition at another Victorian public hospital
  • Children under 18 years of age

We do not encourage referrals for only medication / prescription renewals.

Refer your patient

Make a referral

Referrals are appropriate for clients who have;

  • Persistent or chronic pain (> 3 months duration) with symptoms that impact on daily activities including impact on work, study, school or carer role
  • Adequate trial of treatment in previous 12 months (exercise and analgesia)
  • At risk of functional or psychological deterioration, or medication dependence
  • Willing to explore living well with pain and is willing to learn to self-manage ongoing pain.

And meet one of the following criteria;

  • Pain requires complex medication management
  • Persistent or chronic neuropathic pain
  • Persistent or chronic pain in cancer survivors
  • Persistent or chronic post-surgical or post-traumatic pain
  • Persistent or chronic primary pain
  • Persistent or chronic secondary headache or orofacial
  • Persistent or chronic secondary musculoskeletal pain
  • Persistent or chronic visceral pain

For further details on referral guidelines for Chronic Pain Services please refer to the Department of Health (DHS) Statewide Referral Criteria for Specialist Clinics.

  • Referral phone (03) 9076 6776
  • Referral fax (03) 9076 6773
  • Referral email gcgmcaccess@alfred.org.au

Special referral instructions

A medical referral is required from a general practitioner or specialist.

The centre services the state of Victoria for public, TAC, WorkCover and Veterans Affairs clients.

Referrals are prioritised according to the following criteria:

  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome < 3 months duration
  • Repeated ED presentations
  • At risk of job loss
  • Recent shingles leading to severe post herpatic neuralgia
  • Any other condition highlighted as urgent by the treating doctor

Information that must be included in the referral:

  • Referrals that do not have adequate information will be returned with a request for more information

Demographic details required:

  • Date of birth
  • Patient’s contact details including mobile phone number
  • Referring GP details
  • If an interpreter is required
  • Medicare number
  • The referral should note if the patient is eligible for compensable services (e.g. through the Transport Accident Commission of WorkSafe)

Clinical information required:

  • Reason for referral
  • Duration of symptoms
  • Pain history: onset, location, nature of pain and duration
  • Comprehensive past medical history
  • Current and complete medication history (including non-prescription medicines, herbs and supplements)
  • Relevant pathology and imaging reports (Alfred or Sandringham Radiology preferred to facilitate access to results)
  • Psychological status and cognitive function
  • Details of previous pain management including the course of treatment(s) and outcome of treatment(s)
  • History of alcohol, recreational or injectable drugs, or prescription medicine misuse
  • Details of any current behaviours that may impact on the person’s ability to participate in a chronic pain management program (e.g. behaviours of concern, level of alcohol intake, cognition issues, reliance on a carer, mental health issues)

Provide the following information if available:

  • Details of functional impairment
  • Psychiatric history
  • If the person has symptoms of, or have been diagnosed with, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Results of previous investigations
  • If the person has previously completed a chronic pain management program and if so the provider of the program
  • If the person is part of a vulnerable group

Our clinics

Clinic name Campus Location
Pain Management Clinic Caulfield Hospital 260 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield VIC 3162
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