Pain Management Unit
We work with people experiencing persistent pain.
Reception phone
8222 7826
Email
CALHNPainUnit@sa.gov.au
The Pain Management Unit (PMU) provides services to people experiencing persistent pain to help improve function and increase quality of life.
What we do
Pain which continues longer than three months is defined as persistent or chronic pain.
Within the PMU, a team of varied health professionals work together to achieve the best outcome, providing support, education and therapy to patients that addresses all aspects of pain.
It is a patient-centred service that encourages active participation and shared decision-making with patients, their families, and carers. We work collaboratively with you to help regain your quality of life, improve your function, and achieve pain-related goals that are important to you.
We provide information on how to manage a pain condition to the best of current knowledge, regardless of whether a diagnosis has or has not been made. Treatment may involve individual appointments and/or group programs where appropriate.
Our services include:
- an outpatient service for metropolitan patients
- an inpatient consultation service
- provisions to patients in rural and remote areas, including regular visits to some country locations
- medical procedures can be included in a patient’s treatment plan if needed
- active treatments from physiotherapy and psychology
- specific medical treatments can also be provided for people with cancer pain.
We do not offer:
- second opinions for opioid prescription. This can be sought from another GP or specialist
- we offer medication advice to general practitioners but do not prescribe medications
- referral for medicinal cannabis prescription. The PMU supports the Faculty of Pain Medicine position on medicinal cannabis
- second opinions for patients who have previously been managed by other Pain Management Units. These patients should be re-referred to the original Pain Management Unit
- due to the complexity of pain presentations and the need to engage with general practitioners, referrals for outpatient appointments from the Emergency Department will not usually be accepted
- referral exclusively for provision of MLR, NDIS and DSP reports.
We strongly encourage patients insured with a third-party claim to seek care in the private sector.
Where to find us
The Pain Management Unit is located on Level 2B, North-East Building of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH).
The unit provides services and advice to all CALHN sites across Adelaide, regional South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Who we are
The Pain Management Unit is a multidisciplinary team, represented by health professionals such as doctors specialising in pain medicine, nurses, physiotherapists, psychiatrists and psychologists.
Consultants
Dr Penny Briscoe – Head of Unit
Accessing this service
Patients need a referral from a general practitioner (GP) or specialist to access this service.
You need a referral letter from your GP or medical practitioner to access this service.
Once referred, we will send you a patient screening questionnaire to complete by email or post.
This helps us better understand your pain situation and the type of care that is most appropriate for you. Once we have received your completed questionnaire, you will be placed on our waiting list for an appointment. When an appointment becomes available, we will either send you an appointment letter or phone you to book an appointment time.
More information will be provided to you at this point on what to expect from the pain unit, prior to your first appointment.
Your appointment
Your first appointment may be a Pain Information Session or an appointment with one or more of our health care professionals.
Should changes occur to your medical condition during the waiting time for an appointment, contact your referring GP or referring specialist, who can send updated clinical information directly to the Pain Management Unit.
Change or cancel your appointment
Please let us know if you cannot attend your allocated appointment time as soon as possible. This allows time for us to allocate other patients on our waiting list and find you an alternative time to attend: Please note:
- cancellations within 24 hours of an appointment may be considered non-attendance depending on the circumstances
- non-attendance of two consecutive appointments will be considered for discharge, as will 3 non-attendance's/cancellations within a 3-month period.
Do you need an interpreter or cultural support?
An interpreter ensures that your diagnosis and treatment are explained in your preferred language so that you can ask questions and understand the information.
If you require an interpreter or cultural support at your appointment or during your hospital stay, phone us before your appointment.
Services offered
Most patients will initially attend a group-based introductory pain information session on first visiting the PMU.
In this session you will learn about what persistent pain is, what causes it, strategies to help manage pain and what to expect when attending our service.
Research has shown that an increased understanding of how and why pain happens helps people feel more equipped to manage it. We also provide suggestions on resources and community supports you may like to explore while waiting for your next appointment.
This session may be attended in-person or via telehealth (Zoom), with days and times varying.
We offer group programs to help you learn and develop skills to manage your pain. They also provide an opportunity to connect with others who may share similar experiences.
The programs are co-run by psychologists and/or physiotherapists for a few hours over several weeks, either in-person or via telehealth.
Topics covered include:
- information about persistent pain and how the mind and body operate in response to pain
- breathing and relaxation training to reduce stress and muscle tension and improve coping
- managing distressing thoughts and feelings associated with pain
- gentle movements to improve general fitness, flexibility, and function
- setting realistic goals in life to help you get back on track
- pacing daily activities appropriately
- addressing sleep problems
- distraction and attention techniques
- healthy living habits
- communicating effectively within relationships.
If you are interested in attending a group, please discuss this with your pain unit team.
Our psychologists recognise that pain is an unpleasant physical and emotional experience, and that living with persistent pain can be distressing.
They can speak with you about your physical and emotional health and develop a personalised plan, designed to help you improve your quality of life and cope better with the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that accompany your pain.
Strategies may include:
- learning relaxation techniques
- establishing healthy sleep habits
- managing distressing thoughts or worries
- developing emotional coping skills.
Our physiotherapists can work with you to develop your functional capabilities, improve your confidence with movement, and improve your quality of life.
Strategies can include movement programs to maintain and improve flexibility, strength, and endurance, as well as pacing strategies to help avoid pain flares and prolonged periods of rest.
People with persistent pain are sometimes prescribed opioid medicines. While these can be effective in the short term, they can also result in negative side-effects.
For some people, long-term opioid use can lead to tolerance and increased pain. Our pain specialist doctors can answer questions you may have about your medicines and guide you and your GP about the safest and most effective medicines for your situation.
Go to Reach for the Facts for more information on opioid medication.
There is currently limited evidence to support the use of medicinal cannabis for treating persistent non-cancer pain.
While the Pain Management Unit and the Australian Faculty of Pain Medicine do not currently recommend this treatment, it can be prescribed by a registered prescriber and paid for privately, as it is not currently subsidised by the government.
Outpatient services
Find out information about specialist outpatient appointments, how to be referred, plus information when attending an outpatient clinic.
More information
We accept referrals from general practitioners (GPs) and specialists.
Referring a patient
To refer your patient, complete the referral form and send via fax or email. To ensure timely triage, include all demographic and clinical details. If you are a specialist practitioner referring a patient, the patient’s GP should be informed of the referral.
Should changes occur to a patient’s medical condition during the waiting time for an appointment, referrers should send updated clinical information or contact the Pain Management Unit on 8222 7826.
Criteria
Consult the Pain Management Unit Outpatient service triage information and referral guidelines for specific information.
- the patient’s presenting pain condition/s
- what you require from us
- the patient’s past medical history
- any medications they are taking, and/or have taken in the past
- valid email address of the patient or carer - so we can send an online screening questionnaire for them to complete, in advance of their first appointment, after their referral is accepted. Note: Using email for the questionnaire assists us in eliminating delays and accelerates the referral process to the PMU. If a valid email address is not available, please include an up-to-date postal address, so we can send a hard copy of the screening questionnaire and a pre-paid envelope, to the patient.
Once the Pain Management Unit has received the referral, medical staff will prioritise the referral based on the information provided.
It is helpful to prepare your patient to expect a group-based introductory pain information session as their initial appointment. Find out more about group programs and pain information sessions on our patient information page.
This initial session is valuable as it provides pain education, strategies to help manage pain, an overview of what to expect from our service, an opportunity to ask questions and resources available to patients while waiting for individual appointments.
If you do not believe this session is appropriate for your patient or the referral is urgent, please discuss this with one of our pain specialists.
Should changes occur to a patient’s medical condition during the waiting time for an appointment, referrers should send updated clinical information or contact the Pain Management Unit on (08) 8222 7826.
GPs and specialist referrers are encouraged to phone the Pain Management Unit for advice when referring to our service.
Contact us
GPs and specialist referrers are encouraged to phone the Pain Management Unit for advice when referring to our service. Contact us if there is a deterioration in your patient's condition, you are concerned about any delay or you have further questions about referring a patient.