Pain medicine in Australia
A pain medicine specialist is a doctor who specialises in long-lasting pain. They help people understand their pain and find ways to manage it and get back to daily life. They often work with physiotherapists and psychologists, and some offer procedures such as nerve blocks.
Soonest appointments across Australia
Common reasons to see a pain medicine specialist
- Long-term back or neck pain
- Nerve pain, such as sciatica
- Pain after surgery that has not settled
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Pain from arthritis
- Pelvic pain
- Headache and facial pain
- Help with reducing pain medicines
What happens at the first appointment
- The pain specialist asks about your pain, how it affects your life and what you have tried
- They review your medicines, scans and earlier treatments
- They examine you
- You may be asked to fill in questionnaires about your pain, mood and sleep
- You talk about a plan, which may include exercise, therapy, medicine changes or a procedure
Do I need a referral?
You need a referral, usually from your GP, to claim a Medicare rebate when you see a pain medicine specialist. Many public hospitals run multidisciplinary pain clinics that take GP referrals, though waits can be long.
Questions to ask
- What is driving my pain?
- What can I do myself to manage it?
- Are my current medicines helping or causing problems?
- Would a procedure or a pain program help me?
Common questions
Do I need a referral to see a pain medicine specialist?
To claim a Medicare rebate you need a referral, usually from your GP. Your GP can also send your scans and a list of treatments you have tried.
Will a pain specialist just give me stronger painkillers?
Usually not. Long-term pain is often best managed with a mix of movement, therapy, sleep and mood support, with medicines used carefully.
When is pain an emergency?
Call 000 or go to an emergency department for new back pain with numbness around the bottom or groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, or new weakness in the legs. Severe sudden pain with fever also needs urgent care.
Pain medicine in other cities
General information only, not medical advice. Everyone's situation is different, so check with your GP or the provider. In an emergency call 000.