Pain Medicine is the study, evaluation and treatment of individuals who are injured or suffering from disease which means they are frequently in a state of pain. Pain Medicine has recently been recognised as a separate medical specialty, and, as opposed to Anaesthesia, has a more dynamic, multidisciplinary nature, with a varied, person-centred approach to health and wellbeing. Pain Medicine deals with acute, cancer-related, or chronic pain in patients with diverse medical conditions and needs, and often involves continuity of care. Pain Medicine involves contemporary pain therapy with a combination of sociological (behavioural), psychological and biomedical strategies to help manage pain in patients and improve quality of life. This provides a wide range of care, which may include patient and family counselling, coordination of rehabilitation and other allied health services, as well as prescribing evidence-based medication and other procedural interventions.
Pain Medicine Specialists are Specialist Doctors/Consultants who hold a primary specialist qualification in another area of medicine, but who have undertaken 2-years post-specialist training in Pain Medicine, leading to Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FFPMANZCA). Pain Medicine Specialists work in hospitals, pain clinics, cancer clinics, and palliative care units, consulting in both inpatient and outpatient settings. They examine their patient’s condition physically and mentally and assess prior medical history to create a pain medicine treatment plan. This may include prescribing medicines, surgery, or injections, with ongoing monitoring and assessment, particularly for chronic conditions and palliative care. Pain Medicine Specialists assess the different aspects of pain in their patients and coordinate a range of services and therapies, such as physiotherapy, provided by multi-disciplinary teams.