Question 1

Disclaimer: Please understand the limitations of  information on this website.

Accepted Answer

Information contained on this website is general information only and is not intended to replace discussing your symptoms with your doctor.

Remember that all treatments and procedures have potential risks as well as the potential benefits. 
All medications have side effects.
Although treatments may have evidence based medicine support they may fail to benefit an individual patient.

Please consult your doctor about your pain symptoms and whether a referral to Dr Stephen Gibson may be appropriate.

Question 2

What is Chronic or Persistent Pain?

Accepted Answer

Pain usually starts in response to an injury, and is called Acute Pain. Sometimes when the injury heals the pain doesn’t stop, and if the pain is still there after 6 months it is called “Chronic Pain”.
“Persistent Pain” is just another term for “Chronic Pain”.

Question 3

Why doesn’t pain stop when the injury heals?

Accepted Answer

There are lots of potential reasons.
A nerve injury is a common reason; turning off a pain signal requires a normal nervous system. Once part of the system is damaged turning off the pain signal may not happen easily.
Another cause is that the nervous system can adapt to the pain whilst it still acute to make the pain signals reach the brain more easily, this is called Neuroplasticity, and can allow pain signals to continue to reach the brain after the injury is healed.
The good news is that there are lots of evidence based treatments to reduce nerve injury related chronic pain, and Neuroplasticity can also be reversed.

Question 4

What sort of things can I do to help myself?

Accepted Answer

There are lots of resources available that you can access to help manage your chronic pain.
The NSW Govt has provided a great resource here: https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/chronic-pain(https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/chronic-pain)
This site has some very useful information that will provide you with the general sorts of advice that will help whatever the cause of your Chronic Pain.
 
Start with the "For Everyone": https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/for-everyone(https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/for-everyone)
and watch these 7 short videos.
 
The site also has links for:
Indigenous Patients: https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/our-mob
(https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/our-mob)Youth: https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/painbytes
(https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/painbytes)Translated Resources (Chinese, Greek, Vietnamese and Arabic): https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/translated-resources(https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/translated-resources)

FAQ / Resources