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“There is evidence that the multidisciplinary pain clinic approach is effective”
(11) (The Royal College of Anaesthetists/The Pain Society)
INTRODUCTION:
As a result of twenty years experience in the management of musculoskeletal pain the Blackberry Clinic is now offering a Pain Management Service to incorporate patients traditionally seen by a Pain Clinic in secondary care.
Chronic pain is a complex biopsychosocial problem. A single pathophsyiological explanation is not available for many chronic non-malignant pain states. Up to one-third of chronic pain patients will have no objective findings of organic disease and conventional treatment solely aimed at relieving pain is unlikely to be appropriate for such patients.
Not all patients need a multi-disciplinary approach, but at the Blackberry Clinic we have these approaches available should it be appropriate for the patient concerned.
The Blackberry Pain Management Service will be consultant (anaesthetist) led and be a fully integrated multi-disciplinary service providing a patient centred approach to chronic pain and disability. Each patient will receive a customised programme or a combination of approaches appropriate to their condition
TREATMENTS AVAILABLE:
1) Consultant anaesthetist consultations
2) Prescription medication
3) Spinal injection procedures, with or without fluoroscopic guidance, i.e. epidural
injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency neurotomy, facet joint injections,
sacroiliac injections, sympathectomy, etc.
4) Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and acupuncture
5) Physiotherapy and rehabilitation programmes with exercise orientated
programmes based on Pilates and other exercise systems.
6) Exercise referral programmes in a fully equipped gymnasium for functional
rehabilitation including general exercise and fitness programmes, as appropriate.
7) Psychotherapy; with behavioural approaches such as cognitive behavioural
therapy.
8) Educational methods for patients and professional colleagues in prevention and
early effective management of conditions which may lead to chronic pain
9) Occupational therapy.
10) Complementary medicines.
It is a basic humanitarian right that pain requires treatment or management, regardless of the cause. At the Blackberry Clinic we believe that although back pain doesn’t kill it “tortures” and consequently demands adequate service provision.
There is good evidence that chronic pain services themselves are cost effective. The use of pain clinics result in direct savings to the NHS of twice their own cost (11).
The Blackberry Pain Management Service seeks to provide the highest possible level of care in this field.
“In a CSAG study 11 out of 12 pain clinics could ‘not’ offer all of the recognised treatments for chronic pain (3) …….BUT WE CAN!
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